Trump calls for ‘punishment’ of NBC reporter

President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened NBC broadcast journalist Kristen Welker with possible punishment by US media regulators, in response to her disappointment with coverage of his candidate endorsements ahead of the November midterm elections. Trump criticized Welker on his Truth Social platform for stating that his endorsement results had been "mixed," insisting that they had been "98 per cent to 100 per cent of the time."

When asked about her comments, Welker said Trump would "loom large over these midterms." Trump claimed that due to her inaccurate reporting, she would be reported to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for rebuke or punishment. The FCC is responsible for licensing radio and television broadcast frequencies. Welker, an award-winning journalist, previously moderated a 2020 presidential debate featuring Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

An NBC News spokesperson defended Welker, stating that she is "one of the best in the business" and that the network stands by her. Trump's endorsements have generally helped Republican candidates for statewide office, but his approval ratings have declined, and at least 10 of his picks have been defeated this cycle. Trump's administration has taken a hostile stance against the press, suing newspapers and attempting to restrict public media funding, and the FCC, led by a close Trump associate, has pressured broadcasters to align with the administration's views.

Critics argue that the FCC does not have the legal authority to punish broadcasters or reporters for expressing their viewpoints, as confirmed by the US Supreme Court.