With Chuck Todd officially out as moderator of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” new host Kristen Welker is coming in with a bang, nabbing one of the biggest names in the political world for her inaugural episode: Donald Trump.
The Republican presidential candidate, who’s facing a total of 91 felony counts in his four indictments, sat down with the former NBC News White House correspondent in a pre-taped interview that will air Sunday. But on Thursday, Welker teased some of the interview, including one part where the two discuss the possibility of Trump pardoning himself, should he be reelected.
“I could have pardoned myself. Do you know what? I was given an option to pardon myself. I could have pardoned myself when I left,” Trump said.
“I was told by some people that these are sick lunatics that I’m dealing with,” Trump continued. “‘Give yourself a pardon, your life will be a lot easier.’ I said I would never give myself a pardon.”
When Welker followed up, wondering if that would be true “even if you were reelected in this moment,” Trump explained “it’s very unlikely” because he believes he’s innocent.
“What, what did I do wrong? I didn’t do anything wrong. You mean because I challenge an election, they want to put me in jail?” he said, also noting that “it would look terrible” if he did.
EXCLUSIVE: Fmr. Pres. Trump tells Kristen Welker that he was “given an option to pardon” himself before leaving office.
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 14, 2023
Trump: “I had a couple of attorneys that said, ‘You can do it if you want.’ … I said, ‘The last thing I’d ever do is give myself a pardon.’” pic.twitter.com/1grDtjDXt2