In a contentious portion of an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, President Trump fielded sharp questions from host Kristen Welker regarding his administration’s actions against political adversaries.
The exchange highlighted the tension between the President’s calls for national unity and his administration’s pursuit of individuals who have criticized him.
Welker pressed the President on his directive to US Attorney General Pam Bondi to review cases involving two individuals he considers political opponents, citing a previous statement in December where he claimed he would not instruct the Justice Department to investigate his foes.
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“Well, no. I just look at people — and I’m not directing anybody,” the President responded. He then alluded to one individual who authored a book critical of his administration, labeling it “subversion” and “spying.” When Welker pointed out the executive order calling for the Attorney General to investigate, he maintained that the individual had “been looked at for a long time.”
The conversation grew more pointed when Welker referenced the President’s December statement about wanting to unify the country and his message of “I love you” to those who didn’t vote for him. She questioned how pursuing political rivals aligns with this goal.
The President initially expressed surprise at his past words, asking, “Did I really say, ‘I love you’?” After Welker affirmed his statement and offered to show him the recording, the President shifted focus, criticizing the media’s negative slant in questioning.
“I want to treat people fairly, whether they voted for me or not. I want to have a unified country. It’s very hard because the media’s so fake, including, like, even the way you ask questions,” he asserted.
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Welker countered that they strive for fairness in their questions. However, the President insisted on the negative framing of her inquiries.
Returning to the core issue, Welker asked if going after political foes undermines the goal of unity.
“No, not at all. No, we want honest people,” the President stated.
Welker then raised concerns voiced by individuals in countries with authoritarian tendencies, who see parallels between the President’s actions – such as scrutinizing civil service, universities, law firms, and the media – and an “authoritarian playbook.”
The President dismissed this comparison, suggesting Welker phrase her questions differently and focus on those who support him and want to enter the country. He claimed he won the election by a large margin, including all seven swing states.
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Welker reiterated the concerns of those who view his actions as “authoritarian.” The President responded by touting his administration’s first 100 days as “unprecedented” and suggesting those critical of him would eventually be satisfied with the results.
The discussion then turned to the role of dissent in a democracy. While the President acknowledged it as “a part of democracy,” he did not explicitly call it an “important” part. He argued that complete unity is unrealistic.
Welker questioned how the President’s assertion that people should have the right to criticize him without fear of reprisal squares with his administration’s investigations into his critics.
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“Absolutely. Yeah, I do. That I do,” the President affirmed his belief in the right to criticize.
Trump then pointed out that he has been investigated extensively himself, even more than notorious figures. He maintained that he is not directing the Justice Department but trusts Attorney General Bondi and others to do their jobs well.
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