The headlines say Donald Trump "stormed" out of his interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker.The reality was a little more subtle.It’s easy to second-guess.The natural tension that comes with interviewing any politician for television – but especially this president, who can dominate this kind of sit-down – calls for split-second judgments.Having interviewed Trump numerous times – especially in a high-stakes session two weeks before the election, at his invitation – gives me a certain perspective.TRUMP STORMS OFF 'MEET THE PRESS' INTERVIEW, RIPS WELKER, ABC, CBS, CNN AS 'CROOKED'President Donald Trump walked away from an interview with NBC's Kristen Welker.
The headlines say he "stormed" off.(Adam Bettcher/NBC via Getty Images)Things did not end well with Welker:"You’re crooked, your press is crooked, And ‘Meet the Press’ is crooked.""To be fair, I’m not crooked.""Really? Well, you play right into their hands then.
You’re either crooked or you’re stupid."Geez.TRUMP RIPS OBAMA’S ‘STUPID’ IRAN DEAL IN CLASH WITH KRISTEN WELKERAnd then: "Sorry.Let’s call it quits because I’ve had enough.
Thank you, darling.Have a good time."I’m pretty sure Trump has never called me darling.
He does seem to treat certain women differently.The other day he ripped CNN’s Kaitlan Collins for asking a question, saying she’s "beautiful" but he never sees her smile and that she has "hatred in her eyes." Even in the Welker interview, Trump said ABC, CBS and CNN were also crooked.It’s close to a no-win situation.You prepare a bunch of blue cards, knowing you won’t get to everything.
No matter how wide-ranging the interview, armchair critics will whack you: "Yeah, why didn’t you ask that?"President Trump has a history of sounding off on media figures.(Samuel Corum/Getty Images)My approach is that you’ve got to let the guest speak, but jump in when it’s becoming what senators call a filibuster.
And do some real-time fact-checking when you can.Wh...