Former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel clashed with NBC News host Kristen Welker on Sunday during a controversial interview after being hired as a contributor by NBC.
In a heated interview, Welker questioned McDaniel’s support for Trump as head of the RNC, accusing McDaniel of allowing the former president to “spread election lies.” I asked. Liberals, including many within NBC, criticized the network for hiring McDaniel, calling the move “terrible.”
McDaniel maintained that he had concerns about the 2020 election, saying at the time that he needed to see it through, but added that Biden was fairly elected president.
“I think it’s fair to say there were concerns at the time, but no, Biden is president and we need to move forward and this is important for our country,” she said.
“Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker and former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel clashed in McDaniel’s first interview since being hired as an analyst at NBC News. (Screenshot/NBC)
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“I think what people are struggling with is that by the time the events of January 6th happened, all these lawsuits, over 60 lawsuits, had already been filed. Donald Trump lost; The Supreme Court said it wasn’t going to litigate.”I have concerns, but as the head of the RNC, didn’t you have a responsibility to say that Joe Biden won? ” Welker asked.
McDaniel claimed to have said Biden won.
“Then? The time, before January 6th? Before January 6th, and you’re sitting here this morning saying there are still concerns,” Welker said.
“Just because I have concerns about the election doesn’t mean he didn’t win. That’s the only thing I’m saying,” McDaniel responded.
Ronna McDaniel interviews NBC News’ Kristen Welker on March 24, 2024. (Screenshot/NBC)
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“Do you owe an apology to Donald Trump and the people who feel like you condoned his lies about the election? Do you owe this country an apology?” Welker pressed. .
McDaniel said he reflected after the election to ensure it was conducted in a “transparent and fair manner” and condemned the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.
Welker also pressed McDaniel to acknowledge that Biden won the election “fairly and squarely” after playing a clip from a 2023 interview in which she said the campaign was unfair. Stated.
“As you sit here today, can you say that Joe Biden won the election fair and square?” Welker asked.
Then-Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel is pictured speaking before the Republican presidential primary debate hosted by NBC News in Miami on November 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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McDaniel responded, “He won. He’s the rightful president.” Mr. Welker asked again whether Mr. Biden had won fair and square.
When Welker questioned why it took her so long to say this, she said, “Fair and fair, he won, he was certified, it’s over.” “I’m going to push back a little bit. I think it’s fair to say there were problems in 2020, and that doesn’t mean he’s not a legitimate president.”
As FOX News Digital previously reported, McDaniel resigned from his RNC position after Super Tuesday.
Despite announcing Friday that he would appear on NBC’s platforms, McDaniel will not appear on MSNBC.
Before the interview, Mr. Welker stressed to viewers that he was not involved in Mr. McDaniel’s hiring as an analyst and said it would be a “news” conversation. Later, during a panel discussion on “Meet the Press,” Chuck Todd slammed NBC for hiring McDaniel, saying it put Welker in a difficult position and demanding an apology from the network’s head.
