“Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker allegedly misled the audience about her knowledge of NBC News hiring former Republican National Committee (RNC) chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, according to Politico.
Welker said McDaniel’s interview was scheduled weeks before the network announced McDaniel’s new on-air contributor gig. She claimed to have no involvement in McDaniel’s hiring during her Sunday appearance on “Meet the Press.”
“I was not involved in her hiring,” she said.
A source close to McDaniel said Welker’s words are “misleading,” and handed Politico text messages indicating that Welker and Carrie Budoff Brown met with McDaniel in mid-February right after Brown reached out to McDaniel about the possibility of being a paid contributor, according to Politico Playbook.
Welker and McDaniel allegedly spoke off-the-record in an attempt to get to know one another that day, according to Politico. An NBC source told the outlet Welker spoke to the ex-RNC chair about a potential first interview, and not anything related to a contract.
“Kristen was not part of those talks,” the NBC insider reported told Politico. “She was fenced off and insulated from discussions about a potential contributor agreement.” (RELATED: KJP Suggests NBC Hiring Ronna McDaniel Is ‘An Attack On Our Democracy’)
McDaniel made her debut as a contributor during an interview with Welker on “Meet the Press” Sunday, where she came under fire for declaring that President Joe Biden did not win the 2020 presidential election fairly. Welker further asked McDaniel why she did not previously express her opposition to releasing violent individuals present at the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
NBC News announced Tuesday that it cut ties McDaniel after pundits at NBC News and MSNBC raged at the network over her hiring, Puck News reported Tuesday. McDaniel is reportedly seeking legal representation over the matter.
SCOOP @PuckNews: NBC NEWS plans to drop ex RNC-chair Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor following on-air revolt from NBC/MSNBC talent. Execs are deliberating over details; announcement pending. Meanwhile, McDaniel is seeking legal representation.
Full details, scoops &…
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) March 26, 2024
MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski and Rachel Maddow called on NBC News to “reconsider” their decision, accusing NBC of allowing McDaniel to spread lies about the 2020 election.
