Lisa Rinna Sides With NBC's Kristen Welker as She Accuses Donald Trump of 'Fascism' for Threatening to Report Her Over a 'Fact He Did Not Like'

Former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna took to X to defend Meet the Press host Kristen Welker after President Donald Trump threatened to punish her when she reported that his endorsement track record in recent Republican primaries yielded "mixed results.”

Rinna shared a quote by X user Heather Delaney Reese that stated, “Fascism spreads by turning our own institutions against us. It happens when a man with the full power of the presidency tells a journalist she will be ‘reported for rebuke or punishment’ because she stated a FACT he did not like, and then warns every other journalist in the country that they could be next.”

The comment came after the POTUS — whose “infatuated” aide, Natalie Harp, has fed daily doses of only positive, glowing reviews of his presidency — reacted angrily on Truth Social, disputing Welker’s characterization of his track record.

He dubiously argued that his endorsement record stands at 100 percent for the U.S. Senate and 98 percent for the U.S. House, citing recent primary wins.

Trump called Welker’s comments a "purposeful inaccuracy" and stated she "will be reported to the FCC for rebuke or punishment." He also called the press a "disgrace to our nation" and tagged FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.

An NBC News spokesperson strongly defended Welker, calling her "one of the best in the business" and stating that the network stands firmly behind her. Legal and media experts also noted that the president lacks the constitutional or regulatory authority to punish a journalist through the FCC over fact-based analysis.

The former Melrose Place star has no qualms about expressing her political views, previously making headlines among reality stars in politics when she publicly opposed Spencer Pratt’s Los Angeles mayoral campaign, stating that voters should avoid electing reality figures to public office.

Rinna has repeatedly and sharply criticized Trump on social media, in interviews and in her memoir. Despite a professional relationship with him during two seasons of Celebrity Apprentice in 2011 and 2013, the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star has completely reversed her early positive impressions.

In her 2026 memoir, You Better Believe I'm Gonna Talk About It, Rinna wrote that while Trump kept it professional during her time on reality TV, she now strongly dislikes him.

She stated that he has "ruined the world" and referred to him as a "monster" and America's "Circus Peanut in Chief.”

In mid-2026, Rinna posted a viral social media critique stating that under Trump's leadership, the United States had become "the biggest joke in the world" and that his presidency had severely damaged America's international reputation.

In May, Rinna published a scathing Instagram Story questioning a multi-billion dollar allocation of funds.

She accused Trump of misusing taxpayer money and added, "Actually, Hitler and Mussolini did it to pay their private armies. I think that's what's going on here… just sayin'."