Kristen Welker previously interviewed Donald Trump in September of last year. It was the only time he sat down for an interview with a network news organization for the duration of the 2024 election cycle.
I didn't find CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip to be "embarrassing" or "discrediting" to the network as a whole. I found it compelling and interesting, despite its flaws and problems.
"Your show is not good. It is not smart or sharp. It is preening and often deeply ignorant. And at least you won't have to waste your producer's time by continuing to try to get me on your show, which you've tried to do repeatedly."
"I was not contacted by anyone at NBC News. And no one had closer proximity on a continuous basis. Well…maybe Rachel Campos-Duffy since she sat between us!"