Trump storms out of interview after election fraud, DOJ fund questions

President Donald Trump stormed out of an interview taped on NBC”Meet the Press” After coming under pressure over controversial “weaponization” funding and persistent allegations of election fraud.

Trump sat on NBC Kristen Welker for a taped interview on a Wisconsin farm touching on the Iran war, potential interest rate hikes and a $1.776 billion “weaponization” fund that could financially compensate violent convicted rioters who attacked police officers on Jan. 6, 2021. Thousands of people stormed the Capitol that day, trying to disrupt the certification of former President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.

The president said he would like to see the weaponization fund continue despite the disruptions that led Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to say the funding had been permanently suspended.

Regarding the fund, Trump said, “If it were up to me, I would pay them the money they deserve.” “People have been destroyed. Lives have been destroyed. There are many suicides, think about it.” The president has repeatedly made such claims without providing evidence.

The fund was established following a deal in which Trump ended a $10 billion lawsuit he filed against the Internal Revenue Service over leaks of tax information in 2019 and 2020, in exchange for a so-called arms fund aimed at compensating people who claimed to be victims of the “law.”

“I think the weaponization fund is a great idea,” he said. “If they’re approved, that’s great; if they’re not, I’ll be disappointed.”

The settlement also stipulates that Trump, his family members and related business entities will be forever shielded from tax audits and enforcement actions in connection with tax returns filed before the out-of-court settlement.

However, it was the weaponization fund that attracted the most controversy. The fund quickly became a lightning rod on Capitol Hill; many Republicans opposed the White House and opposed the funding. The fund was blocked in court last month.

Trump claimed that the rioters were taken to the Capitol by the FBI on January 6. It was a claim he failed to provide evidence for and was widely refuted by video of rioters beating Capitol Police officers trying to defend the building.

Pressed by NBC to provide evidence of those claims, Trump turned to allegations of election fraud that he has long alleged but failed to prove in court.

“The election was rigged, it was a dirty election, and it’s happening again in California right now,” he said, referring to the primaries for mayoral and gubernatorial elections in the state where votes are still being counted.

California sends a mail-in ballot to every registered voter and accepts ballots that arrive within one week and are postmarked on or before election day. This often leads to slower vote counting. Republicans have long claimed they did something wrong, as Democratic candidates’ votes often exceed those of their GOP rivals after late-arriving ballots are counted.

“They are rigging the election,” Trump said. Pressed for evidence, Trump said “all I have to do is look… I’m listening to people and let’s see what happens.”

“Do you think an election is held and five days later they are no closer to determining the winner?” he said. “They’re crooked, just like you’re crooked, your press is crooked, and ‘Meet the Press’ is crooked, too.”

Welker attempted to press Trump for evidence to support his claims that he had not provided, and the president repeatedly directed Trump to a question about his role as AG Blanche before pulling the plug on the interview and walking off the set.

As he left, the President crushed his lapel microphone under his foot and said, “Let’s leave it at that because I’ve had enough fun now, thank you darling, have a good time.”