"You're either crooked or you're stupid," President Donald Trump told NBC News' Kristen Welker in a pre-taped "Meet the Press" interview that aired June 7.

After seeing multiple outlets report that Trump stormed out or abruptly ended the interview, I watched it myself, and was surprised by what I found.

After discussing a wide range of subjects – from the war in Iran and the U.S. economy to the Jan. 6, 2021, defendants and the current election in California – Trump did walk out, but it wasn't exactly abrupt, and it wasn't without cause. The published video, filmed inside a Wisconsin barn, where intermittent rainfall can be heard, ran 40 minutes. The original, unedited version was likely longer.

It would be nice, of course, if Trump could resist name-calling and smearing a female journalist. But it would also be ideal if all our presidents were cognizant, healthy and moral.

Trump has given legacy news outlets unprecedented access. In this interview, he is generous with his time, offering lengthy and detailed responses across a wide range of topics. Yet Welker frequently challenges him and, at times, interrupts him as he attempts to fully answer her questions.

That Trump still engages with members of the mainstream media is itself newsworthy. It's a bit like Walter........

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