Donald Trump stated on social media on August 30, 2026, that NBC's Kristen Welker should be reported to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for what he described as mischaracterizations of his endorsement record. Trump expressed his discontent with Welker's comments during a segment of "Meet the Press," where she referred to his endorsement results as 'mixed.' He claimed that recent wins by candidates he endorsed contradicted this characterization. Trump's posts indicated his desire for the FCC to intervene, stating, "FCC to the rescue!"
The FCC, led by Chair Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, has limited authority over content issues and cannot prevent the broadcast of specific viewpoints. However, Carr has previously acted on Trump's requests regarding media organizations. In March, he threatened broadcasters over their coverage of the Iran war, and in April, he initiated a challenge to ABC's local station licenses following Trump's comments about comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
Former FCC officials have criticized Carr for attempting to use the agency to influence media coverage. Trump's remarks about Welker were made in the context of his ongoing frustration with media portrayals of his endorsement record, which he believes have been unfair. NBC News did not comment on Trump's suggestion that Welker could face repercussions. The president has a history of both criticizing and engaging with Welker, having granted her multiple interviews in the past. Trump's comments also sparked discussion on HBO's "Real Time," where host Bill Maher noted that he received a text from Trump disputing Maher's previous remarks about the president's endorsement success.