President Donald Trump says his endorsement is the ‘strongest in the history of politics’ after ‘Meet the Press’ anchor Kristen Welker called his results ‘mixed’
President Donald Trump launched a tirade against NBC’s Meet the Press anchor Kristen Welker on Sunday, August 30, after she said his record of endorsements in Republican primaries produced “mixed results.” Trump rejected the assessment and took to Truth Social to defend his claimed 96% success rate, calling his political backing “the strongest endorsement in the history of politics.” He also urged FCC Chair Brendan Carr to reprimand Welker, escalating his criticism of the media over coverage of his influence within the Republican Party.
Donald Trump cites 96% endorsement success rate
According to Ballotpedia, Trump has made approximately 313 endorsements and won 96% of those races. However, many endorsements came in Republican primaries where candidates faced limited competition. His backing nonetheless proved influential in several closely watched contests, including Senate races in Texas, Louisiana and South Carolina.
Trump claimed his record was even stronger in congressional contests, saying he had a 100% success rate in Republican Senate primaries and a 98% rate in House GOP primaries. He argued that many candidates he endorsed “were not even given a shot of winning until I endorsed.”
“In actuality, it is, without question, the strongest endorsement in the history of politics,” he added.
Notable defeats complicate record
However, Trump’s record has not been perfect. His setbacks include endorsements of retiring scandal-plagued Rep. Cory Mills of Florida, Amir Hassan in Michigan, Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee, Randy Feenstra in Iowa, Burt Jones in Georgia and Mike Lindell in Minnesota.
Trump highlighted recent victories, including his endorsement of Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina’s special primary runoff and Mike Mazzei’s win in the Oklahoma Republican gubernatorial primary.
Donald Trump demands FCC action
Trump argued that Welker should face consequences for criticizing his endorsement record on a broadcast network. “How can anyone be allowed to say this, working for freely given Public Airwaves? Results are attached. Because of this purposeful inaccuracy, she will be reported to the FCC for rebuke or punishment,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Unfortunately, she is not the only one.”
NBC defended Welker. “Kristen is one of the best in the business, and we stand by her,” an NBC spokesperson told the New York Post.
Trump specifically appealed to Carr, who has threatened to increase scrutiny of broadcast networks he believes demonstrate political bias. The Trump administration has previously targeted ABC News, triggering a lawsuit.
Donald Trump calls media a ‘disgrace’
Trump accused the media of deliberately undermining his political influence. “The Radical Left News is going out of their way to harass, demean, and libel anything ‘TRUMP,’” he wrote. “The Press is a Disgrace to our Nation, and I hope that Chairman Brendan Carr, and the fine people of his Commission, will take this Threat to our Country very seriously,” Trump concluded. “Thank you for your attention to this very important matter of Fake Polls and Commentary.”
Trump previously criticized comedian Bill Maher over his endorsement record, privately confronting him before Maher acknowledged on Real Time that the president was right.