After a recent meeting between President-elect Donald Trump and MSNBC “Morning Joe” hosts, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, at Mar-a-Lago, the backlash from media figures of varying political ideologies has been significant. Calls for a boycott of the show have emerged.
The pair had not met with Trump for seven years prior to the meeting on November 15, 2024. During Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, Scarborough and Brzezinski were vocal critics, leading to heightened criticism of their meeting. The hosts had previously described Trump as a “dark, dismal fascist—and increasingly obviously fascist—person.”
Journalist Glenn Greenwald delivered a strongly-worded critique, labeling Scarborough and Brzezinski as “the most humiliating and pathetic people in all of the corporate media.” He suggested their motivation to meet with Trump stemmed from a need to “reestablish a relationship with the fascist dictator Donald Trump to get him back on their show.”
According to insiders, the hosts may have been motivated by fear to meet with Trump. CNN reported that Scarborough and Brzezinski were reportedly worried about potential governmental and legal harassment from the incoming Trump administration.
The criticism extended to their home network, with MSNBC’s Jennifer Rubin pushing for a “Morning Joe” boycott and calling the meeting “disgusting.”
Ana Navarro and Sunny Hostin, co-hosts of “The View,” added to the criticism, questioning Scarborough and Brzezinski’s journalistic integrity and suggesting their meeting with Trump was opportunistic.
Scarborough defended the meeting, pointing out that social media reactions are not indicative of the broader public response. He highlighted a contrast between online criticism and real-world feedback, citing numerous positive phone calls from global supporters of their decision to meet with Trump.
Trump stated that the meeting covered various topics and expressed appreciation for the hosts’ willingness to maintain open communication. He expressed regret that this type of dialogue had not begun sooner.
The meeting led to immediate consequences for “Morning Joe,” with reports of a ratings drop as liberal viewers temporarily disengaged after the election. This trend is similar to past years when supporters of the losing party briefly withdrew their viewership.
Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly criticized the pair for “dishonesty and ‘faux journalism'” following their change in stance toward Trump. Keith Olbermann, a former MSNBC host, also voiced his disapproval of his former colleagues’ actions.
Trump, who previously targeted the hosts with derogatory nicknames like “Crazy Mika” and “Psycho Joe,” stated his intention to meet with more media figures, even those who have been “extremely hostile.” However, he stressed that fair treatment would be a prerequisite for ongoing communication.
