Kristen Welker to Trump: Are You Taking the Country Down an 'Authoritarian Path?'

“People who have lived in countries like the Philippines, Hungary, Russia, they look at some of your actions, going after civil service, going after universities, law firms, the media, they say it’s out of an authoritarian playbook. What do you say to those who believe you are taking the country down an authoritarian path?”

— Moderator Kristen Welker to Donald Trump as aired on NBC’s Meet the Press, May 4, 2025.