President Donald Trump abruptly ended a tense interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker on Sunday after a heated exchange over election integrity, California vote counting, and a proposed compensation fund for Americans he says were harmed by the Biden administration’s “weaponization” of government.

The interview, conducted in Wisconsin, grew increasingly contentious as Welker repeatedly challenged Trump’s claims regarding election fraud and his proposal for a multi-billion-dollar fund to compensate individuals he believes were unfairly targeted by federal agencies under former President Joe Biden.

Welker pressed Trump on reports that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche had indicated the administration would not move forward with the proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.

Trump defended the idea, arguing that many Americans had suffered at the hands of what he described as “radical left lunatics” in the Biden administration.

“People have been hurt so badly by radical left lunatics that worked for the Biden administration and Sleepy Joe,” Trump said. “They’re vicious. They’re violent, what they did to people. And, of course, they went after me more than anybody else.”

Asked whether he was still seeking a way to revive the proposal, Trump replied: “If it was up to me, I’d pay them the kind of money that they deserve. So me, personally, I think the weaponization fund is a great idea, and so do many other Republicans. You have to get it approved.”

The interview became even more heated when Welker challenged Trump’s claims that the 2020 election had been rigged.

“There’s no evidence of what you’re saying,” Welker told the president.

“There’s a lot of evidence,” Trump responded. “Listen to me. There’s tremendous evidence. There’s nothing but evidence.”

Trump then pointed to California’s lengthy vote-counting process as further proof of what he called election irregularities.

“The election was rigged,” Trump said. “It was a dirty election. And it’s happening again right now in California.”

As the exchange continued, Trump launched into a broad attack on the media.

“All I have to do is look,” he said. “They’re crooked just like you’re crooked, your press is crooked. And Meet the Press is crooked.”

He continued: “Your elections are crooked, and you’re crooked, and ‘Meet the Press’ is crooked. And so is ABC and CBS and CNN.”

Moments later, Trump ended the interview.

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

Welker attempted to continue the discussion, noting that NBC had traveled to Wisconsin for the interview.

“Mr. President, please, I traveled all the way to Wisconsin,” she said.

Trump responded that he had already devoted sufficient time to the interview.

“I sat in the rain with you for an hour,” Trump said. “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 a dishonest press.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)