United States of America

Trump Talks Trade, Peace & Immigration in NBC Interview

MAY 5 2025·Updated MAY 6 2025

Story

Above: President Trump and Kristen Welker during an NBC Meet the Press interview on April 4, 2025. Image credit: NBC via Fox News

The Facts

U.S. President Donald Trump appeared on NBC’s "Meet the Press" on Sunday, where he discussed various topics and issues ranging from the U.S. Constitution to immigration, the economy, and foreign policy.
NBC
Axios
Concerning the Constitution, Trump questioned whether it was his presidential duty to uphold due process, stating that he was "not a lawyer" when Kristen Welker asked about the legal right. On a third term, however, Trump was more explicit, saying, "I'll be a two-term president."
FOX News
nytimes
Trump also addressed immigration policy, claiming the U.S. was "doing great on illegal immigration," but said he would not lift the emergency order on the southern border, citing "an overall emergency on immigration" despite it being "the most secure border we've ever had."
NBC
FOX News
Additionally, Trump defended his tariff policy, saying it would make America "a very rich country." He also said that he would not drop tariffs on China — asking, "Why would I[?]" — and hinted that some tariffs may be permanent, asking, "if somebody thought they were going to come off the table, why would they build in the United States?"
NBC
FOX News
Axios
On Canada and Greenland,Trump refused to rule out military action to seize the latter, which he said America needed "very badly," but said it was "highly unlikely" it would come to that regarding Canada, which he reiterated would make a "cherished state."
NBC
Breitbart
Trump also addressed foreign policy. On Iran, he said that the U.S. seeks the "[t]otal dismantlement" of its nuclear program. Regarding Russia-Ukraine, he said a deal was "fairly close" but warned "there will be a time" he might walk away if they "[k]eep being stupid and keep fighting."
NBC
FOX News
Timesofisrael

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Pro-Trump narrative

This was a fundamentally dishonest and hostile interview by the mainstream media. On tariffs, especially, NBC host Kristen Welker made outlandish claims about the economy, which were fundamentally false and designed to paint the president in a negative light. The president, however, stood his ground, asserted the positives of his policy, and called out Welker for her falsehoods.

FOX News

Anti-Trump narrative

This interview provided disturbing insight into Trump’s state of mind. On the Constitution, for example, the president displayed an alarming disregard for the law, repeatedly refusing to answer on the importance of due process. Meanwhile on some of America's closest allies, Canada and Denmark, he repeated his belligerent rhetoric, threatening military action against the latter and demeaning the sovereignty of the former. In all, Trump’s NBC interview was a mask-off moment for the president.