The weekend witnessed a significant surge in the expression of anger and criticism, primarily from the left side of the political spectrum, as evidenced by the widespread trending of calls to “boycott” NBC News and its flagship program, Meet the Press.
A substantial number of enraged comments were disseminated on X (formerly known as Twitter) and Facebook, garnering significant attention throughout the week and extending into Saturday. This surge in online activity was triggered by the announcement that Kristen Welker, the newly appointed host of Meet the Press, would be doing an interview with Donald Trump, marking her inaugural appearance as the moderator of this widely recognized Sunday program.
Before broadcasting the complete program, NBC News released several preview snippets of the interview, which featured Welker posing inquiries regarding the contents of a message Trump had left for President Joe Biden, as well as the former president’s apprehensions regarding his own age.
Since the initial announcement and up until the latest segments that were broadcasted on Saturday, those who identify as progressives, liberals, and Democrats have expressed their strong disapproval on social media platforms regarding the decision to provide Trump with a platform on Meet the Press.
Presented below are a selection of notable instances that have garnered significant attention in terms of likes, retweets, and/or replies, commencing with a comparison involving Adolf Hitler.
Disgusting. Hitler was “fired up about a lot of issues and leaning into his deal-making status” too, Kristen Welker. #BoycottMeetThePress https://t.co/B8bPvOyb31
— Scary Larry (@aintscarylarry) September 16, 2023
What a fu**ing joke. As if @MeetThePress wasn’t on its last breaths you pull this idiotic publicity stunt. Don’t give them the ratings they desperately seek. #BoycottMeetThePress https://t.co/q0CW0K54I8
— Dave Arendt (@ArendtDave) September 13, 2023
Hey @NBCNews…this is a terrible idea.
If you can’t interview Trump live, don’t bother. If it’s not live, thar means that your basically doing a Trump campaign ad.
No thanks. And…#BoycottMeetThePress https://t.co/kfPPWDcVVT
— Cat Scott (@CGScott4) September 13, 2023
@kwelkernbc has given in and sold her soul to #DonaldTrump, for ratings.
She’s jumped on the Trump Train, and will now be using her platform to confirm the LIES of Trump and the GOP
All for ratings.
Chuck Todd was bad, but she’s trash #BoycottMeetThePress pic.twitter.com/KvjoKvql5A
— Oral Carter (@oralcarter376) September 14, 2023
A considerable portion of the tweets under the designated hashtag consisted of retweets of Dean Obeidallah, who expressed strong criticism, as well as Aaron Rupar, who provided many video recordings. However, numerous other individuals with significant influence also expressed their dissatisfaction and outrage, even in the absence of the aforementioned trending hashtag.
“Kristen Welker to Interview Trump For Meet the Press Launch.” Nothing like kicking off your new political show with a man who attempted a coup and incited the Jan 6 attack. It’s as if corporate media wants FASCISM. Plus she will lose liberals forever. https://t.co/trs3MgQuLO
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) September 13, 2023
Former NBC News employee Keith Olbermann, who was terminated from his position, characterized Welker as “irretrievably damaged” in light of her interview.
Punt
She’s already irretrievably damaged. What a disastrous stenography job with Trump
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) September 16, 2023
NBC reported what it believed were some of the top moments of the interview, from Trump’s stand on abortion, to his declaring that he’s not afraid of going to prison:
“Trump said members of his own party “speak very inarticulately” about abortion, and he criticized those who push for abortion bans without exceptions in cases of rape and incest, and to protect the health of the mother.
“I watch some of them without the exceptions, et cetera, et cetera,” he said. “I said, ‘Other than certain parts of the country, you can’t — you’re not going to win on this issue. But you will win on this issue when you come up with the right number of weeks,”” according to the outlet.
While Trump passed on the chance to clarify what kind of legislation he would sign to ban abortion after a certain number of weeks — or if he prefers the issue be solved at the federal level rather than on a state-by-state basis — he repeatedly sought to portray himself as a dealmaker who could unite “both sides” and put the issue to rest.
“We’re going to agree to a number of weeks or months or however you want to define it,” Trump said. “And both sides are going to come together and both sides — both sides, and this is a big statement — both sides will come together. And for the first time in 52 years, you’ll have an issue that we can put behind us.”
NBC added, “Despite facing four trials, Trump told Welker that he’s not consumed with visions of prison.”
“I don’t even think about it,” Trump said. “I’m built a little differently I guess, because I have had people come up to me and say, ‘How do you do it, sir? How do you do it?’ I don’t even think about it.”
But he also came back to the question on his own accord later in the interview, suggesting it stuck with him.
“When you say, do I lose sleep? I sleep,” he said. “I sleep. Because I truly feel that, in the end, we’re going to win.”
WATCH THE INTERVIEW:
The full Trump Meet the Press interview pic.twitter.com/OpVgWc86YC
— Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) September 17, 2023
The interview covered a few major areas such as the 2020 election, and the fate of those involved in the violence on January 6, 2021.
NBC stated, “Trump delved deep into his decision to press to overturn the 2020 election and took responsibility for it.”
“We have many people, and it’s my choice,” he told Welker, later adding, “It was my decision. But I listened to some people.”
Top administration and campaign lawyers told Trump he had lost the election, and that there was no evidence of fraud. But there were outside attorneys — including several who face legal jeopardy themselves — who helped Trump not only contest the election but collect slates of fake electors in order to upend the electoral vote count in Congress.
He said he didn’t listen to White House and campaign attorneys “because I didn’t respect them as lawyers.” He said those lawyers “turn out to be RINOs [Republicans in name only], or they turn out to be not so good, in many cases.”
“Are you acknowledging you didn’t win?” Welker asked.
“I’m not acknowledging,” he said. “No. I say I won the election.”
Trump faced a series of questions over a comment he made earlier this year, telling a supportive crowd, “I am your retribution.” Asked what it means, Trump talked of having “to protect people,” adding that he views the prison sentences given to some Jan. 6 rioters as unfair when compared with the punishments given to those who participated in racial justice protests during the summer of 2020.
“When I talk about retribution, I’m talking about fairness,” he said. “We have to treat people fairly. These people on Jan. 6, they went — some of them never even went into the building, and they’re being given sentences of, you know, many years.”
Welker followed up with Trump to ask if he will pardon the imprisoned rioters.
“Well, I’m going to look at them, and I certainly might if I think it’s appropriate,” he said. “No, it’s a very, very sad thing. And it’s – they’re dividing the country so badly, and it’s very dangerous.”
The post Trump Unloads Truth Bomb Live On NBC During Interview With Leftist News Host appeared first on The Republic Brief.
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