- McDaniel launched her new NBC News contributor gig on Sunday
- A heated interview with host Kristen Welker included confrontational, contradictory statements she made while chairing the RNC
- Longtime Meet the Press host Chuck Todd said on a panel after the interview that the bosses “owe (Welker) an apology” for allowing McDaniel on the show
Ronna McDaniel launched her new NBC News gig on Meet the Press on Sunday morning during a heated interview with host Kristen Welker, in which the former RNC chair contradicted views she had previously expressed.
NBC News Meet the Press host Chuck Todd, who left the show last year, said during a panel after Welker’s interview that their bosses “owe you an apology” for allowing McDaniel on the show.
McDaniel announced she is stepping down as chair of the Republican National Committee after mounting pressure from former President Donald Trump. She was replaced by Michael Whatley, a longtime MAGA ally and former chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party.
And Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara was elected co-chair of the party at a rally in Texas earlier this month.
Upon McDaniel’s departure, she signed a deal for a new gig at the liberal-leaning NBC News.
Former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel launched her new NBC News contributor gig Sunday in a heated interview with Meet the Press host Kristen Welker
During a panel after the interview, former Meet the Press host Chuck Todd (right) said their bosses owe Welker (left) an apology for having McDaniel on her show.
Welker welcomed McDaniel to her show on Sunday to give her new job a soft launch, but the conversation went south.
McDaniel admitted on the show that she “took one for the team” when it came to voicing the opinions of the entire RNC, claiming that this included suppressing Trump’s claims that the 2020 election were not legitimate and that convicted prisoners of January 6 should be released from prison. .
“I don’t think people who committed violent acts on January 6 should be released,” McDaniel told Welker.
‘So you don’t agree with that. He’s been saying that for months, Ronna. Why don’t you speak out sooner? Why would you only speak out about that now?’ the NBC host asked.
“If you’re RNC chair, you currently take one for the entire team,” she replied. ‘Can’t I be myself a little more?’
She continued, “This is what I believe. I don’t think violence should be a part of our political discourse, Republican or Democrat. And I don’t agree with that. I agree with him on a whole host of other things.’
“I don’t think we should free people who violently attacked Capitol Hill police officers and attacked the Capitol.”
It followed a tense back-and-forth over the outcome of the 2020 presidential election and repeated claims that the results were not legitimate due to widespread fraud and interference.
McDaniel claims that while there were “problems” in 2020, she believes Biden is the legitimately elected president.
But Welker wondered why McDaniel could discuss this now but was unwilling to make the same claims when she was chair of the RNC for years.
“I’m going to push back a little bit because I think it’s fair to say there were problems in 2020, and to say that doesn’t mean he’s not the legitimate president,” McDaniel reasoned.
McDaniel was pressed by Welker on several topics, including whether she believes the 2020 election results were legitimate and whether January 6 inmates convicted of violence should be released
During an on-air panel following Welker’s conversation with McDaniel, her predecessor was visibly angry about the fact that the former RNC chairman had been hired by NBC News.
‘Let me deal with the elephant in the room. I think our bosses owe you an apology for putting you in this situation. Because I don’t know what to believe,” Todd said.
“She is now a paid contributor to NBC News, so I have no idea if the answers she gave to you were because she didn’t want to screw up her contract,” he continued. “She would have us believe she spoke on behalf of the RNC, even though the RNC paid for it.”
So she has credibility issues that she is still dealing with. Does she speak for herself or on behalf of whoever pays her?’
Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison also blasted NBC for the new hire.
“The free and independent press is fundamental to our democracy, and it continues to face unprecedented attacks from Donald Trump and his lackeys – including Ronna McDaniel – to undermine its credibility and leave room for MAGA lies and deceit he wrote in a statement on Sunday.
“All of us – including the independent press – have a duty to stop them.
He added: “There should be no debate about the truth in our political discourse. Ronna McDaniel is a proven liar and has no place in an honest and objective conversation about the future of this country.”