President Donald Trump criticized television journalist Kristen Welker and the ‘radical left’ media for doubting his endorsement achievements, which he claimed were unparalleled in political history. On Truth Social, Trump accused Welker, who moderates NBC’s Meet the Press, of inaccurately portraying his endorsement outcomes as mixed. He suggested she would be reported to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for this perceived misrepresentation.
Trump wrote, ‘Kristen Welker, the unpopular hostess of the once great Meet the Press, now known as Meet the Fake Press, falsely claimed my endorsement results are mixed. The recent wins of Darline Graham and Mike Mazzei show 100% success for the U.S. Senate and 98% for the U.S. House.’
The FCC, an independent agency overseeing broadcast and radio networks, has faced accusations of increased politicization during Trump’s administration under Chairman Brendan Carr. Newsweek sought comments from NBC News and the White House.
Trump’s Endorsement Record
During Trump’s first term, Ballotpedia tracked 305 endorsements. In 2026, he made 312 primary endorsements with a 97 percent success rate by early July. Trump’s primary successes have consistently outperformed his general election outcomes.
For example, in 2018, his primary success rate was 95 percent, compared to a general election rate of 59 percent. In 2019, these figures were 80 percent and 67 percent, respectively. By 2020, Trump achieved a 97 percent primary and 79 percent general election success rate. In 2021, he accomplished a perfect 100 percent success in both areas, albeit from five endorsements.
Trump endorsed 241 candidates in 2022 primaries, achieving a 93 percent success rate, with an 84 percent rate in 254 general election endorsements. By 2023, his primary success fell to 67 percent, though general election success reached 80 percent. In 2024, these improved to 96 percent for primaries and 89 percent for general elections.
In 2025, out of nine endorsed candidates, he saw a perfect 100 percent primary success but only 43 percent in general elections. As of August 5 of this year, his 313 primary endorsements have a 96 percent success rate.
Comparison with Other Presidents
Trump’s endorsement frequency sets him apart. Joe Biden endorsed significantly fewer candidates as president. In 2021, Biden endorsed three candidates, with a 50 percent success in general elections. In 2022, his nine general election endorsements had an 89 percent success rate. In 2023, Biden’s success stood at 71 percent from 24 general endorsements.
Trump’s strategy contrasts with predecessors like Barack Obama. Obama released a lengthy endorsement list only once, post-presidency in 2016. Historical comparisons remain challenging due to inconsistent tracking of endorsements in earlier eras.
Assessing ‘Mixed Results’
Justin Vaughn, a political science professor at Coastal Carolina University, described Trump as the nation’s most influential endorser. Despite a strong endorsement record, gubernatorial races hold unique challenges for Trump’s influence. Vaughn highlighted how these elections focus on state issues, experience, and local networks, diluting presidential endorsement power.
Boleslaw Z. Kabala of Tarleton State University noted few candidates succeed against Trump’s endorsements unless leveraging significant self-funding or presenting as outsiders rather than critics. Despite occasional setbacks, Trump’s endorsements remain powerful in Republican primaries.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Tobias Meyjes and Trevor Davies.