President Donald Trump‘s dramatic walkout during a heated interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker sparked an immediate firestorm online, with critics branding the commander-in-chief “unhinged,” Wonderwall.com can report.
The president abruptly ended the sit-down in Wisconsin after Welker challenged his claims that the 2020 election was stolen, triggering a flood of reactions from journalists, politicians and social media users.
Tapper leads backlash
CNN anchor Jake Tapper was among the first high-profile figures to weigh in on the confrontation, defending Welker while criticizing Trump’s conduct.
“That is some wild, unhinged stuff from the President,” Tapper wrote on X. “Welker is a good person and honest journalist and didn’t deserve that, but more importantly we have a president who constantly pushes conspiracy theories with zero evidence and can’t respond when politely challenged on that.”
The comments came after Trump accused Welker and multiple news organizations of being “crooked” before declaring he’d “had enough” and walking away from the interview.
Newsom mocks Trump’s California obsession
California Governor Gavin Newsom also seized on the moment after Trump pivoted — from discussing the ongoing Iran war and a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” to compensate individuals who claim they were unfairly targeted by the government — to once again claim the 2020 election was “rigged.”
“The most severe case of California Derangement Syndrome we’ve ever seen,” Newsom joked on social media.
Others questioned Trump’s repeated clashes with female journalists.
“How much longer are we going to tolerate the way Trump speaks to female reporters?” one social media user wrote as clips of the exchange spread online.
That is some wild, unhinged stuff from the President.
Welker is a good person and honest journalist and didn’t deserve that but more importantly we have a president who constantly pushes conspiracy theories with zero evidence and can’t respond when politely challenged on that. https://t.co/FO5bTmrkvZ— Jake Tapper 🦅 (@jaketapper) June 7, 2026
In November 2025, he snapped at Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey during an exchange, telling her, “Quiet. Quiet, piggy.” The following month, he targeted ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott, calling her “the most obnoxious reporter in the whole place.”
More recently, Trump took aim at MS NOW White House reporter Akayla Gardner after she noted that the projected cost of his White House ballroom project had doubled since it was first announced. In response, he dismissed her as “a dumb person.”
Trump has also repeatedly singled out CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, at times criticizing her for not smiling enough.
Welker breaks her silence
Before the interview aired, Welker addressed the tense sit-down and the challenging conditions surrounding it.
“My interview with President Trump on Friday afternoon was unfortunately complicated by weather issues,” she wrote on social media ahead of the interview’s June 7 airtime. “In spite of those challenges, we still had a substantial conversation on issues from the Iran war to the economy to the so-called ‘anti-weaponization’ fund. Tune in for the full interview this morning on Meet the Press.”
Despite the drama, the veteran moderator largely avoided engaging with the criticism that followed.
‘Biggest train wreck I’ve ever seen’
As footage of Trump’s exit circulated, many social media users blasted the president’s performance.
“Donald Trump can’t stand strong people who aren’t brainwashed. He especially seems to have a problem with women,” one critic wrote.
Another added, “Watching Trump’s meltdown with Kristen Welker: I really think he believes, when asked to provide evidence for his claims, that bellowing about how there is plenty of evidence and that ‘everyone knows’ this is the same thing as providing evidence. He’s exactly that delusional.”
Another viewer summed up the sentiment shared by many critics, writing, “Man, the Meet the Press interview with Trump was the biggest train wreck I’ve ever seen. Trump is a petulant child, and I cannot understand how anyone can still support his bulls***. It’s embarrassing.”
