Welker Asks If Trump Or Biden Better Negotiator: Meet The Press

When Meet the Press Anchor Kristen Welker interviews Republicans, her tone is adversarial, like a junk yard dog. But she turns into a pussy cat when talking with Democrats.  

She asked Vice President J.D. Vance few questions about the newly minted peace deal in Israel. She said the big story is the government shutdown and pressed Vance on Sunday about laying off government workers. Welker was eager to place blame on President Donald Trump’s administration for the shutdown, saying it is on Trump to get a deal.

Welker’s tone was warmer with Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., asking fewer follow-up questions on the same topics. She had just two questions about the Israel peace deal, will peace hold, and, then, as if Welker forgot former President Joe Biden was not competent enough to find his way off stage without directions, she asked Kelly, “Do you believe that this peace deal came together now because President Trump was more effective at pressuring Prime Minister Netanyahu than former President Biden was?”

Too bad she didn’t ask Vance that question, but she must have known he would have reminded her that, even on a good day, negotiating complicated international affairs was beyond Biden’s skill set.

Later in the panel discussion, Welker attempts to downplay the historic nature of the peace deal, contrasting it with some domestic challenges created by Democrats.

“What about that split screen?” Welker asks. “Here you’ll have the president on the world stage touting this indisputable, huge victory. The government’s at a standstill back at home, and there are a lot of tensions over a lot of different issues here at home.”

It’s hard for Democrats and their mouthpieces like Welker to say anything positive about Trump without balancing it with a negative.

We’ve removed the answers so you can assess the tone by reading just the questions on Meet The Press:         

Introduction

Anchor Kristen Welker:

This Sunday: Peacemaker. President Trump heads to the Middle East to sign a deal to free the hostages and end the war in Gaza.

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But will the fragile ceasefire hold? My guests this morning: Vice President J.D. Vance and South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. Plus: Power plays. The Justice Department indicts another Trump political enemy: New York Attorney General Letitia James.

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While a federal court temporarily stops the president from deploying national guard troops in Chicago to deal with crime. And: Deadlock. Tensions rise on Capitol Hill as week three of the government shutdown looms.

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As federal workers face layoffs, is there an end to the stalemate in sight? I’ll speak with Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona. Joining me for insight and analysis are: NBC News Chief Justice and National Affairs Correspondent, Kelly O’Donnell; Amna Nawaz, co-anchor of PBS Newshour; Ashley Etienne, former communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris; and Lanhee Chen, a fellow at the Hoover Institution. Welcome to Sunday, it’s Meet the Press.

Good Sunday morning. As President Donald Trump prepares to embark on an historic trip to the Middle East to tout the deal between Israel and Hamas to free the hostages and end the fighting in Gaza, a battle brews at home. Mr. Trump testing the limits of his presidential authority, with another Democrat on his enemies list now under indictment, a judge blocking his orders to deploy national guard troops in Chicago and unprecedented mass layoffs targeting federal workers during a government shutdown. The president promising the firings would be, quote, “Democrat-oriented.”

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Welker Questions Vice President J.D. Vance

And joining me now is the Vice President of the United States, J.D. Vance. Mr. Vice President back to Meet the Press.

Well, it is good to have you on this monumental Sunday, Mr. Vice President. Let’s start right there with the peace agreement in the Middle East. President Trump said this week, quote, “We have ended the war in Gaza.” Mr. Vice President, do you see this moment as an end to the war in Gaza?

And of course we have covered every twist and turn of these negotiations extensively. I do want to ask you about this historic next step, Mr. Vice President, that we are anticipating, the release of the hostages. Can you tell me exactly when are the hostages going to be released? When will we see them?

Let me ask you about what we can anticipate from the United States. NBC News is reporting that the U.S. military is preparing options to deploy as many as 200 troops to Israel to support the flow of humanitarian aid and security assistance into Gaza. Can you guarantee that no U.S. troops will ever be sent directly into Gaza, Mr. Vice President?

What about Gaza? Will U.S. troops ever be sent into Gaza? Just yes or no.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay. I do want to turn to the big news here back at home, the ongoing government shutdown. I want to play you a little bit of what President Trump’s had to say about shutdowns past when Barack Obama was president. Take a look.

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Mr. Vice President, by President Trump’s own calculus, the pressure is on him to get everyone into a room and get a deal. Is it not?

But what about —

 –what President Trump said?

What about what Mr. Trump said, his own words?

Mr. Vice President, we still have a lot to get to. You are in power and the administration has begun layoffs of thousands of federal workers. And yet during the 2019 shutdown under the first Trump administration, which lasted 35 days, no federal workers were laid off. Why are these firings necessary?

But laying people off —

– is a priority?

All right. Almost out of time, a couple more questions left though. So let me ask you, of course there’s a major legal battle underway about the administration’s deployment of the National Guard. It does come as NBC News is reporting that the administration has been seriously discussing invoking the Insurrection Act. That would give the president the power to direct federal troops to conduct law enforcement functions in the case of a national emergency. Is that the case? Are you seriously considering invoking the Insurrection Act?

Mister —

Mr. Vice President —

Couple of points here. First of all —

An Illinois judge said that state and local authorities have been able to handle protest activity, that ICE and other federal agencies have been able to continue to do their work. Crime is down in both Chicago and Portland. But is there a rebellion here? That’s what would trigger an Insurrection Act. Is it imminent?

Okay.

Mr. Vice President, we are almost out of time, about 30 seconds left. Of course, NBC News is covering and has confirmed that President Trump’s social media post last month calling for his attorney general Pam Bondi to prosecute his political opponents – James Comey, Letitia James and Adam Schiff –was actually meant to be a private message. Both Comey and James have now been indicted. Is the Department of Justice acting on orders from the president to prosecute his political opponents? With the final 30 seconds we have left.

They —

Okay, let’s —

Mr. Vice President, just staying on this president though, my question for you: Is the appearance of pressure a problem? The fact that he has publicly called for these indictments and now they have happened. Does that not blur the lines?

All right. We covered a lot of ground today. Vice President J.D. Vance, thank you so much for joining us. We really appreciate it.

You too. And when we come back, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona joins me next.

Welker Questions Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.

Welcome back. And joining me now is Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona. Sen. Kelly, welcome back to Meet the Press.

It’s wonderful to have you here. A lot of ground to cover. Let’s start with the Middle East. Again, you just heard my conversation with Vice President J.D. Vance. How much confidence do you have that this peace agreement will hold?

Do you believe that this peace deal came together now because President Trump was more effective at pressuring Prime Minister Netanyahu than former President Biden was?

Okay. Let’s turn to the big news here at home, the shutdown. Of course Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said this week, quote, “Every day gets better for us.” Of course that comes as hundreds of thousands of federal workers have been furloughed, mass layoffs have already started, as I was just discussing. Is that the right message from the Senate Democratic leader, that every day gets better?

Well, you take me to my next question. Because tensions are running high on Capitol Hill. We have some video of that. You and your fellow Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego confronting Speaker Mike Johnson over the fact that the House is currently out of session. And as you just laid out, one of Democrats’ core demands is to extend Obamacare subsidies. If Republicans commit to hold a vote to extend these subsidies before the end of the year, would that be enough for Democrats to reopen the government? Would you vote for that? Would you support that?

I do want to turn to some other major news now that we were just discussing here with the vice president. New York Attorney General Letitia James has now been indicted, just weeks after the indictment of Former FBI Director James Comey. Both coming after President Trump personally instructed the attorney general to prosecute them. Those indictments were carried out by grand juries. You just heard my conversation with the vice president. Let me ask you, do you have faith in the Justice Department?

Do you have faith in the Justice Department, though?

You mentioned Adam Schiff. Are you concerned? Do you think that Adam Schiff should be bracing for possible legal action?

Before I let you go, former Vice President Harris is on a national book tour right now. Her book, 107 Days. She has some sharp words for some Democrats, including yourself. She writes that while she admired you greatly when she was considering you for her running mate, quote, “He also hadn’t yet had an, ‘Oh, blank’ moment in his relatively short political career. I wasn’t sure how he would cope with the kind of garbage Trump would throw at him. I realized that I couldn’t afford to test Mark Kelly in that ugly grinder.” What was your reaction to hearing her say you were untested?

Do you think that Kamala Harris would be a strong candidate in 2028?

You would encourage her to run?

Could your name be on that list, Senator?

All right. Sen. Mark Kelly, thank you so much.

Really appreciate your being here. When we come back, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina joins me next.

Welker Questions Sen. Lindsey Graham, S.C.

Welcome back. Joining me now is Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Senator Graham, welcome back to Meet the Press.

Good morning. Thank you so much for being here. Let’s start with the big story, the Middle East. Again, you just heard me talking about it with both of my prior guests. On this program in July, Senator, you said, quote, “There’s no way you’re going to negotiate an end of this war with Hamas.” Do you believe that this deal will bring a lasting peace in Gaza?

Yes. Well, senator, as you lay this out there are still a lot of complicated steps that need to be taken. President Trump’s 20-point plan, as you know, opens the door for Palestinian statehood. But Prime Minister Netanyahu said this. He said, quote, “We are firmly opposed to a Palestinian state,” even after signing the plan. So, Senator, let me ask you: Does Israel need to accept a two-state solution in order for any peace to be enduring?

All right, I do want to turn to another war that President Trump has been focused on trying to end, the war in Ukraine, of course. Senator, it has been 58 days now since President Trump and President Putin met in Alaska. Russia has only stepped up its attacks against Ukraine. On Saturday, President Zelensky renewed his plea to President Trump for long-range missiles. Do you believe the United States should supply more weapons to Ukraine right now, including those Tomahawk long-range missiles?

All right, a lot of news, and you heard it here first. Senator, thank you for that. I want to turn to the big issue facing Congress back at home. Of course the Trump administration this week announcing mass layoffs in the face of this shutdown, thousands of federal employees impacted. Your Republican colleague, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, called the layoffs “punitive” and said they would hurt hard-working Americans. Senator, do you support these mass layoffs, which are not required under the rules of a shutdown?

Senator, though, going back to this idea of layoffs. You talked about that shutdown back in 2019, 35 days, no workers were laid off. Why is it necessary now when it wasn’t necessary then? Is this anything more than a political ploy?

Let me finally ask you about these indictments that we have seen, the indictment against Letitia James and James Comey as well. NBC News, again, has confirmed that that post that President Trump put on Truth Social was actually meant to be a private message to Pam Bondi. Do you think it’s appropriate for the president to direct his attorney general to indict whoever he says?

But, senator, I’m asking –

But senator, I’m asking about right now. And this sitting president’s actions right now. It’s worth noting that James Comey –

Well, James Comey and Letitia James have said that they are innocent of these crimes that they’ve been accused of. But senator, very quickly, to the appearance –

To the appearance, though, senator, the fact that President Trump publicly called for his attorney general to indict people. Do you think that crosses a line between the Justice Department being independent from the Executive Branch?

But what about Trump? But senator, what about Trump?

But, senator, Biden never publicly called for Trump to be indicted.

And you’re referencing the fact that the FBI obtained what has been referred to as basic information: date, time, length of calls. Senator, we covered a lot of ground.

Senator, we covered a lot of ground as we always do. Thank you so much for being here. Really appreciate it. When we come back, the Nobel Peace Prize was handed out this week. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. joined Meet the Press not long after he was awarded the prize. Our Meet the Press Minute is next.

Meet the Press Minute 

Anchor Kristen Welker:

Welcome back. The Nobel committee awarded its Peace Prize this week to Maria Carina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader who has spent much of the past year in hiding as she fights for democracy in her country. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. joined Meet the Press a year after he was awarded the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize, and he spoke about his commitment to nonviolent protest.

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And when we come back, will the fragile deal between Israel and Hamas hold? The panel is next.

Meet the Press Panel Discussion

Welcome back, the panel is here. NBC News Chief Justice and National Affairs Correspondent Kelly O’Donnell; Amna Nawaz, co-anchor of the PBS NewsHour; Ashley Etienne, former communications director to Vice President Harris and Speaker Pelosi; and Lanhee Chen, a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Thanks to all of you for being here. Kelly, let me start with you and the Middle East, a monumental moment as President Trump prepares to travel to the Middle East. What are the implications both here at home and nationally?

Well, Amna, Kelly takes this to the next part of this conversation, which is that this is fragile. There are so many unknowns. What are you going to be watching for in the days and weeks ahead as someone who is so familiar with the region?

And that’s so significant that Hamas has not yet agreed. Ashley, my conversation with Mark Kelly, I thought it was interesting the way in which he answered the question: ‘did President Trump simply put more pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu?’ And he did acknowledge part of this is because of the unique relationship between Trump and Netanyahu.

Well, Lanhee, what about that split screen? Here you’ll have the president on the world stage touting this indisputable, huge victory. The government’s at a standstill back at home, and there are a lot of tensions over a lot of different issues here at home.

Well, and Kelly, big picture, we’re also seeing this president really test the limits of his executive authority – dispatching troops to Chicago, to Portland, as I was discussing with the vice president. Also these indictments handed down by the DOJ through federal grand juries of Letitia James, of James Comey. What are you going to be watching for next, including the fact that you have reporting that John Bolton, former UN ambassador, could be next?

Ashley, how do you assess how Democrats are responding so far?

And Amna, of course, the question of all of this, where does this all end? It comes as there’s a bigger question about whether Trump is going to actually invoke the Insurrection Act. I asked the vice president about it. He certainly didn’t take it off of the table.

How big of an escalation would that be at this time?

Guys, we only have about 30 seconds left. Any idea when the government’s going to reopen? Anyone want to venture a guess?

Okay. All right, guys. Great conversation. Thank you so much. Thanks so much for watching. That is all for today. And make sure to tune in to NBC Nightly News tonight for a special broadcast with Tom Llamas live from Tel Aviv ahead of President Trump’s historic visit to the Middle East. We’re back, because if it’s Sunday, it’s Meet the Press.

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Beth Brelje is an elections correspondent for The Federalist. She is an award-winning investigative journalist with decades of media experience.

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