A candid admission from a high-ranking NBCUniversal executive that Comcast's multi-million dollar contribution to President Trump's ballroom project was merely the "cost of doing business" sparked outrage among journalists at a company retreat this week.
According to media watchdog Status, NBC-owned stations' news directors and NBC News investigative reporters gathered for a network training day ahead of the 2026 Investigative Reporters & Editors conference in National Harbor, Maryland.
During that gathering, Anzio Williams, executive vice president of talent, strategic initiatives and team impact at NBCU Local, defended Comcast's seven-figure bankrolling of Trump's ballroom as a necessary price "to facilitate the company’s ability to continue producing journalism," Natalie Korach wrote.
According to attendees, Williams said: "If we have to name a ride after him at Universal Studios, that's fine too, as long as it means they leave us alone."
The comment landed like a bombshell, Status is reporting. Journalists in the room immediately expressed displeasure to NBC management, describing the remarks as a "gut punch," according to one attendee.
In a statement to Status, Williams disputed the characterization of his remarks, claiming: "I was lauding our company for giving us journalistic independence and not interfering in our work. I noted our parent company has a lot of interests and followed up to share that they make donations across the spectrum, but our journalism is never influenced or impacted."
An NBCUniversal spokesperson declined to back up the explanation.
The episode reignited controversy over Comcast's decision to bankroll Trump's ballroom project—a decision that sparked fury when first revealed. Several MS NOW hosts publicly rebuked their own corporate parent on air before the network was spun out of Comcast's portfolio as part of Versant, Status is reporting.
"Those public-facing companies should know there's a cost in terms of their reputation with the American people," Rachel Maddow said at the time, with Lawrence O'Donnell adding: "Comcast is committed to nothing but Comcast."