Savannah Guthrie's History with Donald Trump

The 'Today' show anchor has interviewed the former president multiple times, including a tough town hall in 2020.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 5:23pm

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Savannah Guthrie, the anchor of NBC's 'Today' show, has interviewed former President Donald Trump on several occasions, including a high-profile town hall event in October 2020. Their relationship has been complex, with Trump at times criticizing Guthrie's tough interviewing style while also praising her work. The latest development is that Trump called to express sympathy over the disappearance of Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, who was reported missing from her Arizona home.

Why it matters

Guthrie's history of interviewing Trump provides insight into their relationship and the challenges of journalists covering powerful political figures. Trump's outreach to Guthrie during her family's personal crisis also highlights the unpredictable nature of their dynamic.

The details

Guthrie, who was an NBC News White House correspondent before joining 'Today', has interviewed Trump multiple times, including a town hall event in October 2020 where she pressed him on sharing conspiracy theories online. Trump later criticized Guthrie, calling her a 'crazed lunatic', but also said she did a good job with the interview. Guthrie has said she approaches all interviews the same way, focusing on 'fairness, accuracy, and precision' no matter who the subject is.

  • Guthrie interviewed Trump on the 'Today' show with former co-anchor Matt Lauer a few times leading up to the 2016 election.
  • In October 2020, Guthrie hosted a town hall with Trump, the same night as then-candidate Joe Biden had a town hall with ABC News.
  • On February 3, 2026, Trump called the disappearance of Guthrie's mother 'a terrible thing' and said he 'always got along very good with Savannah'.
  • On February 4, 2026, the White House said Trump spoke with Guthrie.

The players

Savannah Guthrie

The anchor of NBC's 'Today' show, who has interviewed former President Donald Trump multiple times over the years.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who has had a complex relationship with Savannah Guthrie, sometimes criticizing her tough interviewing style but also praising her work.

Nancy Guthrie

Savannah Guthrie's mother, who was reported missing from her Arizona home on February 1, 2026.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's a terrible thing. I always got along very good with Savannah.”

— Donald Trump (USA TODAY)

“I approach it the same no matter what. I think preparation is the key. Interviewing any president is difficult. It's one of the most high-pressure situations you can find yourself in. And, every president, every political figure, they're all different. And they all present a different set of challenges. So I think it's just one of those occasions where you always have to study really hard and, no matter who it is, you have to be just ready for the unpredictable.”

— Savannah Guthrie (USA TODAY)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.