Joe Battenfeld: President Trump targets 'crooked' media, walks off interview

Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald on Jun 10, 2026

Published in Op Eds

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President Donald Trump’s decision to leave a long, aggressive interview with the slanted, outdated “Meet the Press” show drew the usual outrage from liberal critics who always gave free passes to Democratic presidents.

“You’re a one-sided, crooked network,” Trump told the moderator, Kristen Welker, from NBC News. “Sorry, let’s call it quits because I’ve had enough. Thank you, darling. Have a good time.”

Trump quit the interview in Wisconsin after he was grilled relentlessly about a slew of controversial topics like election results, his proposed “anti-weaponization” fund and California’s election results.

Why is every single Trump interview an attack and a chance for the host to get into a debate?

Was it that way with Democratic presidents? Did Barack Obama ever get a tough question on his rare appearances on talk shows?

What about Joe Biden? Even when he was giving nonsensical answers, he was treated with kid gloves by network interviewers.

Does anyone now doubt there is a double standard when it comes to Republican and Democratic politicians?

This is why the press is in such disarray today – they have no credibility left. Polls show consistently that the media’s approval rating has tanked to an all-time low.

Hey, arrogant Scott Pelley, guess what? You are not in charge of the network. You don’t get to decide how CBS shows are made. You got rich off your network anyway.

That’s why it was a master stroke by Trump to quit the “Meet the Press” interview, because he knows he is firing up his base, who can’t stand the mainstream media.

Trump probably planned to walk out at some point, knowing that he would get attacked by the show’s host. It’s as predictable as the summer heat.

“The election was rigged,” Trump said of the 2020 election. “It was a dirty election. And it’s happening right now in California…All you have to do is look. They’re crooked just like you’re crooked, your press is crooked. And Meet the Press is crooked.”

Welker then lamely tried to prevent Trump from ending the interview with a line that the president’s Republican supporters howled over.

“Mr. President, let’s…please. I traveled all the way to Wisconsin.”

“I sat in the rain with you for an hour,” Trump replied. “On and off in the rain, and I’ve given you enough time. You ought to straighten out your press, because you know what? A country can never be great with dishonest press.”

History is full of political figures and others who have stormed off interviews or had meltdowns when they didn’t like the tone of the questions.

California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter threatened to walk off an interview with a local TV reporter in 2025, derailing her campaign.