Trump Criticizes Media Over Endorsement Record Reporting
President Donald Trump has responded forcefully against NBC journalist Kristen Welker and the media. He criticizes them for questioning his endorsement success, calling it unparalleled in political history.
On his platform, Truth Social, Trump specifically targeted Welker, the moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press. He accused her of inaccurately stating he had ‘mixed results’ with candidate endorsements in recent elections. Trump mentioned plans to report her to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for misrepresenting his endorsement achievements.
“Kristen Welker, the unpopular ‘Hostess’ of Meet the Press, now dubbed Meet the Fake Press, claimed mixed endorsement results for Trump. Recent wins of Darline Graham and Mike Mazzei show a 100% success rate for the U.S. Senate and 98% for the U.S. House,” Trump claimed on social media.
The FCC, an independent agency overseeing broadcast and other networks, has faced criticism of politicization in Trump’s second term under Brendan Carr’s leadership. Newsweek sought comments from NBC and the White House via email.
Trump’s Endorsement Record
Ballotpedia data from Trump’s first term, 2017 to 2021, shows 305 endorsements. In 2026, Trump made 312 primary endorsements, with a 97% win rate through early July as per election tracking.
Historically, Trump’s primary success exceeds general election performance. His 2018 primary win rate was 95%, compared to 59% in generals. In 2019, results were 80% and 67% respectively. In 2020, he achieved 97% in primaries and 79% in generals. In 2021, both rates were 100%, albeit with only five endorsements.
In 2022, Trump’s primary success hit 93% across 241 endorsements, and 84% in generals out of 254 endorsements. By 2023, primary and general success rates shifted to 67% and 80% respectively. Rising again in 2024, he recorded 96% in primaries and 89% in generals. In 2025, Trump endorsed nine candidates: four in primaries with a 100% success rate, and nine in generals with 43% success.
As of August 5 this year, Trump endorsed 313 primary candidates with a 96% success rate, awaiting general elections, resulting in a current 0% general success rate tracked by Ballotpedia.
Mixed Endorsement Results?
This cycle, Trump’s endorsements won key primaries, including Rhett Marques and Tom Tiffany. However, he faced losses like Mike Lindell’s defeat by Lisa Demuth in Minnesota. Despite setbacks, his supporters like Byron Donalds and Harriet Hageman triumphed in various states.
Significant defeats included Cory Mills losing to Ryan Elijah and Megan Degenfelder losing to Eric Barlow.
Endorsements Compared with Previous Presidents
Trump’s endorsement frequency surpasses predecessors, though not unmatched. Joe Biden made fewer endorsements with variable success rates: 50% (3 candidates) in 2021, 67% (3 primaries) and 89% (9 generals) in 2022, and a 71% success with 24 candidates in 2023. In 2024, Biden endorsed two primary candidates, both successful.
Obama’s strategy in 2016 involved endorsing 150 candidates, indicating substantial involvement post-White House.
Expert Views on Trump’s Influence
Justin Vaughn, Coastal Carolina University, highlights Trump as a significant endorser, yet acknowledges limits in gubernatorial races. State issues, experience, and local networks can dilute presidential endorsements. Nonetheless, Trump remains dominant in Republican primaries, evidenced by varied outcomes in recent elections.