Kristen Welker’s interview with President Trump focused on three key areas: Venezuela, health care and tariffs. Trump declined to rule out military action in Venezuela and defended recent measures targeting oil tankers linked to the country. He proposed direct payments to let Americans buy their own health insurance and said he does not plan to actively pursue repeal of the Affordable Care Act. The president also vowed tariffs would remain, though officials later clarified that planned military payments would come from housing funds, not tariff revenue.
Three Takeaways From Kristen Welker’s Sit-Down With President Trump: Venezuela, Health Care and Tariffs
Kristen Welker’s wide-ranging interview with President Donald Trump examined the administration’s posture on Venezuela, plans for health care, and the future of tariffs — all following the president’s recent address to the nation. The conversation came as several major news developments unfolded, including the Justice Department’s release of documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein, U.S. strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria, and notable political moves from Republican leaders.
Below are the three main takeaways from the interview, followed by related reporting and broader context.
1. Venezuela: Military Action Remains On The Table
When asked whether military action was a possibility in Venezuela, Trump would not rule it out. "I don’t rule it out, no," he told Welker. The president defended recent measures he described as a "blockade" targeting oil tankers linked to Venezuela and said Americans should expect more seizures of such vessels.
On whether his objective includes removing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump declined a direct confirmation, saying Maduro "knows exactly what I want." Observers noted the position marks a sharper stance than the president’s previous statements emphasizing reduced U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.
2. Health Care: Direct Payments To Individuals
On domestic policy, Trump said his address outlined a health care approach centered on giving money directly to individuals so they can "buy their own health insurance." "We’re going to pay the money directly to the people," he told Welker, adding that funds could be used in health accounts or other mechanisms to let people shop for coverage.
The White House has not yet released implementation details. Trump also said he does not plan an active effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, asserting that "Obamacare would just repeal itself automatically because nobody’s going to want to use it." The claim was presented without supporting evidence during the interview.
3. Tariffs: Here To Stay, The President Says
Trump reiterated that tariffs introduced during his earlier term will remain in place, calling them a source of "national security" and "tremendous wealth." He insisted that tariff revenue, together with the domestic funding bill he signed, would help cover the "warrior dividend" payments to service members he announced in his address.
Administration and Senate sources later clarified that the payments would be drawn from military housing funds in the appropriations bill, and a Senate source said tariffs would not be the funding source for those payments.
Other Notable Items From The Interview And Reporting
The Justice Department released thousands of documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein ahead of a congressional deadline. The U.S. military conducted strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria after an attack that killed three Americans. GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik withdrew from the New York governor’s race and indicated she will not seek reelection to the House, and Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R‑Wyo.) announced she will not run for another term in 2026.
Sports Betting Poll
Separately, an NBC News Decision Desk Poll (Nov. 20–Dec. 8) found broad public concern about sports gambling: 70% of respondents said sports betting "lessens the integrity of the game," and 63% expressed some level of concern that increased gambling could lead to games being fixed or rigged. The poll was conducted in the wake of several high-profile sports-betting scandals.
Welker said the conversation will continue on "Meet the Press" this Sunday with Senators Lindsey Graham (R‑S.C.) and Tim Kaine (D‑Va.). The interview and reporting were compiled by the NBC News Politics team.
