The final debate could be Trump's last chance to turn the race around: He's already attacking the moderator

WASHINGTON – The next (and final debate) isn't until Thursday, but President Donald Trump is already trying to pressure and intimidate the moderator, NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker.

"She’s always been terrible & unfair, just like most of the Fake News reporters, but I’ll still play the game," Trump tweeted Saturday. "The people know!"

Thursday's debate is crucial for Trump, who refused to participate in an Oct. 15 showdown with Biden because organizers wanted a virtual debate in light of the president's COVID-19 diagnosis.

Trump enters the Nashville, Tennessee, debate trailing Biden in preelection polls both nationally and in key states, and this will likely be his last chance to reach a vast audience before Election Day on Nov. 3.

Welker hasn't commented, but plenty of colleagues and competitors testified to her fairness and professionalism. They said she will do great when moderating Thursday's showdown between Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.

"Kristen is one of the toughest, fairest reporters you’ll ever meet," tweeted Kathryn Watson, a White House reporter for CBS News.

In addition to the tweet, Trump went after Welker during a Saturday night rally in Janesville, Wisconsin.

"She's extraordinarily unfair, but that's all right," Trump said before launching into a criticism of NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie, who moderated his town hall Thursday night in Miami.

Trump also criticized moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News ahead of the Sept. 29 debate with Biden, as well as C-SPAN's Steve Scully, who was slated to moderate the Oct. 15 debate that was eventually canceled.