Key Takeaways
- Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, surprisingly praised Donald Trump for his recent military actions in Iran.
- Scarborough said it’s okay to acknowledge positive results, even if you don’t like the president.
- He criticized Democrats for not giving Trump credit for weakening Iran’s defenses.
- Scarborough and his wife, co-host Mika Brzezinski, faced backlash for meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago after the 2024 election.
- Viewership for Morning Joe dropped sharply following the meeting.
- Scarborough defended the meeting, saying it was to improve communication for their audience.
Scarborough’s Surprise Praise for Trump
Joe Scarborough, a longtime critic of Donald Trump, recently shocked viewers by praising the former president’s actions in Iran. Scarborough, who hosts MSNBC’s Morning Joe alongside his wife Mika Brzezinski, said Trump’s recent airstrikes on an Iranian nuclear facility were a significant success.
Scarborough pointed out that Trump’s actions have weakened Iran’s military and terrorist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad. “It’s okay to say it’s a good thing that Iran’s defenses have been shattered,” Scarborough told his audience.
He also defended Trump’s decision to bomb Iran without Congress’s approval, saying, “Two things can be true at the same time. Yes, the president should have given more advance notice, but it’s still a good thing that Iran’s defense structure has been brought to its knees.”
The Backlash Over Scarborough’s Meeting with Trump
Scarborough’s praise for Trump comes after he and Brzezinski faced intense backlash for meeting with the former president at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The meeting happened shortly after Trump won the 2024 election.
At the time, Scarborough and Brzezinski, who have been vocal Trump critics, said the meeting was meant to reopen communication and serve their viewers better. However, sources revealed they were worried about retaliation from Trump’s incoming administration.
The meeting sparked outrage among viewers and other media personalities. Many accused Scarborough and Brzezinski of trying to avoid Trump’s wrath rather than holding him accountable.
Scarborough Defends the Meeting
Scarborough pushed back against the criticism, saying the backlash showed a “disconnect” between social media and “the real world.” He argued that his critics were unfair and that it’s possible to disagree with someone while still acknowledging their achievements.
However, the damage was done. Morning Joe’s viewership dropped sharply after the meeting, and the show has yet to fully recover.
Scarborough’s Bigger Message
Scarborough’s comments about Trump’s Iran strategy were part of a larger argument. He believes Democrats and critics of Trump are too quick to dismiss his achievements, even when they benefit the country.
Scarborough said, “It’s okay to say it’s a good thing that Iran’s defense structure has been brought to its knees, even if you don’t like the president who got them there.”
He also criticized Democratic leaders for focusing on political fights rather than acknowledging the positive results of Trump’s actions.
What’s Next for Scarborough and Morning Joe?
The backlash from the Mar-a-Lago meeting and Scarborough’s praise for Trump’s Iran actions have raised questions about his show’s future. While Scarborough remains a key figure in cable news, some viewers have lost trust in his independence.
Only time will tell if Scarborough’s attempts to balance criticism and fairness will win back his audience or further alienate them. For now, he continues to defy expectations by speaking his mind, even if it means praising a president he has long opposed.