Both ABC and CBS managed to keep the sacredness of the 75th anniversary of D-Day intact Thursday by keeping divisive domestic politics largely out of their flagship evening newscasts that night. But NBC once again proved that they kept little above exploiting every opportunity to go after President Trump and pushing for his removal from office.
NBC Nightly News was particularly excited this time because Politico had reported a day earlier that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) had stated that she was looking to put the President in prison once he left office.
“The bitter showdown between President Trump and Speaker Nancy Pelosi is intensifying, after Pelosi told top Democrats behind closed doors she doesn’t want to impeach the President; she wants to see him behind bars,” anchor Lester Holt enthusiastically announced.
White House correspondent Kirsten Welker excitedly noted that Pelosi’s admission came after House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler demanded they move forward on impeachment.
“NBC News has learned from a congressional source in the room, Pelosi then said about the President, ‘I don't want to see him impeached, want to see him in prison.’ Pelosi has indicated she wants the President prosecuted after leaving office,” she added.
In a head-scratching sequence, Welker chided President Trump for talking politics during that somber day and touted Pelosi’s refusal to:
WELKER: At the somber ceremonies in Normandy today, Pelosi didn’t want to get political. Telling NBC’s Andrea Mitchell.
PELOSI [TO ANDREA MITCHELL]: With respect to your question, I’m not here to talk about impeachment.
WELKER: But against the same Normandy backdrop, the President took aim at Pelosi when he was asked whether Special Counsel Robert Mueller should testify.
TRUMP: He made such a fool out of himself. [Transition] I call him nervous Nancy. Nancy Pelosi doesn’t talk about it. Nancy Pelosi’s a disaster. Okay? She’s a disaster. And let her do what she wants. You know, what? I think they're in big trouble.
What made Welker’s attitude towards the President there so disingenuous was the fact that her colleague was the one trying to insert politics. At the Normandy Cemetery, colleague and MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell pressed Pelosi on whether or not Trump was “threaten[ing]” what the D-Day soldiers died for. That’s not to mention that Welker was inserting the politics herself with the report.
Welker also hyped how “Pelosi is facing push back from a growing number of Democrats calling for an impeachment inquiry, up to 60 House members.” And she wrapped up her segment by highlighting Nadler’s threat to “subpoena Robert Mueller in the next two weeks.”
This disrespectful display came a day after NBC Nightly News and chief White House correspondent Hallie Jackson spent more time bashing Trump than celebrating a D-Day eve ceremony.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
June 6, 2019
7:10:42 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: The bitter showdown between President Trump and Speaker Nancy Pelosi is intensifying, after Pelosi told top Democrats behind closed doors she doesn’t want to impeach the President; she wants to see him behind bars. Here’s NBC’s Kristen Welker.
[Cuts to Video]
KRISTEN WELKER: Tonight, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi escalating her war of words against the President. Politico reporting that during a meeting Tuesday, she was pressed by Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler to start impeachment proceedings.
NBC News has learned from a congressional source in the room, Pelosi then said about the President, “I don't want to see him impeached, want to see him in prison.” Pelosi has indicated she wants the President prosecuted after leaving office.
A spokesperson for the Speaker would not confirm the comments.
At the somber ceremonies in Normandy today, Pelosi didn’t want to get political. Telling NBC’s Andrea Mitchell.
SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI [TO NANCY PELOSI]: With respect to your question, I’m not here to talk about impeachment.
WELKER: But against the same Normandy backdrop, the President took aim at Pelosi when he was asked whether Special Counsel Robert Mueller should testify.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: He made such a fool out of himself. [Transition] I call him nervous Nancy. Nancy Pelosi doesn’t talk about it. Nancy Pelosi’s a disaster. Okay? She’s a disaster. And let her do what she wants. You know, what? I think they're in big trouble.
WELKER: Tonight, Pelosi is facing push back from a growing number of Democrats calling for an impeachment inquiry, up to 60 House members. But Pelosi insists it’s too soon.
PELOSI: We’re following the facts. We'll take them where they’ll lead us.
[Cuts back to live]
WELKER: According to Politico, Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler told some Democrats he might subpoena Robert Mueller in the next two weeks. Nadler has said he’s confident Mueller will come in soon, but it will be behind closed doors. Lester.
HOLT: Kristen Welker tonight, thank you.
