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United States President Donald Trump has taken a direct stand against NBC journalist Kristen Welker, threatening to report her to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for what he claims is "purposeful inaccuracy" in her reporting. The action follows a series of tensions between Trump and the media, particularly concerning his endorsements of electoral candidates.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump criticized Welker's portrayal of his endorsements as having "mixed results" in the primaries leading up to the November elections. He also shared a chart, which he did not attribute to any specific source, purporting to show that 98 percent of the candidates he endorsed had won their elections.
"Because of this purposeful inaccuracy, she will be reported to the FCC," Trump wrote, indicating his intention to use the regulatory agency to address what he perceives as false reporting.
Welker, who has been a prominent figure in television journalism, hosted the 2020 presidential election debate between Trump and former President Joe Biden and currently anchors NBC's weekly news program, Meet the Press. Her recent interview with Trump, in which she pressed him on claims of election fraud, ended in a heated exchange.
Trump has a history of contentious relationships with television news networks, often accusing them of bias and unfair reporting. He has increasingly threatened to use the FCC to target what he considers false news. This is not the first time he has resorted to legal action against news outlets; he has filed several multibillion-dollar defamation lawsuits against media organizations, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
This month, Disney, the owner of ABC News, sued the FCC, alleging political retaliation over an early license review of eight of its stations. Disney claimed the FCC's actions were a response to criticism from Trump and his wife, Melania, regarding a joke made by late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel.
The Trump administration's efforts to regulate the media have also included attempts to compel reporters to reveal their sources. The New York Times reported that FBI agents sought cooperation for an investigation into a story about a secret US Navy SEALs mission in North Korea. The Justice Department also tried to subpoena three other journalists from the newspaper over reports on the president's new Air Force One jet.
News media freedom groups, such as the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, have criticized the Trump administration for targeting critical media. In its annual global press freedom rankings, Reporters Without Borders placed the United States at a "historic low," dropping from 57th to 64th in the world.
Welker's case is a stark reminder of the ongoing battle between the White House and the media, with Trump using his influence to attempt to silence or punish journalists who challenge his administration's narrative.
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