MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, known for their strong criticism of President-Elect Donald Trump, recently visited Mar-a-Lago to engage in a discussion aimed at improving communication for their audience. This visit, occurring just two weeks after the election, has sparked mixed reactions from their viewers and critics.
Scarborough and Brzezinski have been very vocal about their opposition to Trump, with Scarborough previously stating that it wasn’t far-fetched to compare him to Hitler. Following an assassination attempt on Trump last summer, MSNBC even took “Morning Joe” off the air temporarily.
During their Monday show, the anchors explained that they had reached out to Trump last Thursday and met him the following day in Florida. “It marked the first time we had seen him in seven years,” Brzezinski mentioned, adding that Trump appeared “cheerful and upbeat” during their conversation, despite discussing various points of disagreement.
Brzezinski emphasized the importance of reopening channels of communication, drawing inspiration from her late father Zbigniew Brzezinski, who served as national security adviser under President Jimmy Carter. She advocated for journalists and commentators to engage with leaders, even when they hold differing views. She asked, “For those questioning why we would engage with the president-elect during such tense times, I would pose a counter-question: Why shouldn’t we?”
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President Trump confirmed the meeting during an interview with Fox News Digital, expressing appreciation for their willingness to maintain an open dialogue, saying, “In many ways, it’s regrettable that this did not happen sooner.”
However, the meeting faced criticism from various quarters. On “The View,” co-host Sunny Hostin emphasized the need for a free press that can hold power accountable, questioning the necessity of traveling to Florida to “kiss the ring.” Meanwhile, former journalism professor and blogger Jeff Jarvis criticized the meeting as “a disgusting show of obeisance in advance.”
Some conservative commentators also expressed their disapproval. Talk host Buck Sexton noted on X that “Trump’s victory is so complete, ‘Morning Joe’ has fully surrendered,” while veteran news personality Greta Van Susteren labeled it as “groveling.”
In the aftermath of the election, “Morning Joe,” like many MSNBC programs, has experienced a significant drop in viewership, a trend often seen when viewers of the losing party take a hiatus after elections. Typically, many of these viewers return after some time.
After the show, neither Scarborough nor Brzezinski was available for media inquiries, as they had anticipated backlash regarding their decision to meet with Trump. Scarborough noted, “Just to be clear, we’re not here to defend or normalize Donald Trump. Our goal is to report on him and share insights with our audience.”
In his Fox News interview, Trump asserted that he has an obligation to remain open and accessible to the media, adding, “However, if I’m not treated fairly, that will come to an end.”
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David Bauder covers media topics for the AP. Follow him on Twitter.
