Morning Joe Hosts Met With Trump

The hosts of MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, are suddenly singing a different tune about President-elect Donald Trump.

After years of gleeful, over-the-top criticism—complete with comparisons to fascists and “Nazi-like” rally rhetoric—they’ve decided it’s time to “reset communications.” Over the weekend, the pair trekked to Mar-a-Lago for a sit-down with Trump, their first face-to-face meeting in seven years. Cue the collective eye-roll.

Brzezinski kicked off Monday’s broadcast by doubling down on her usual scaremongering, labeling Trump’s cabinet picks “scary.” But then came the pivot. She explained their visit to Mar-a-Lago as a step toward “doing something different” because, apparently, now it’s time to talk with Trump instead of endlessly talking about him. Scarborough chimed in, detailing their conversation with Trump, which touched on abortion, deportations, and alleged political retribution. Unsurprisingly, there wasn’t much agreement. Still, Scarborough said they felt it was time to rebuild a dialogue.

Of course, the internet wasted no time calling out the hypocrisy. Conservative commentator Scott Jennings snarked, “Hitler getting a lot more meeting requests than I would’ve thought.” Byron York piled on, pointing out the absurdity: “They call Trump a fascist, and then, 22 days after his ‘Nazi-like’ rally, they fly to Florida for an audience.” Others mocked the sudden turnaround, noting how quickly this “Trump is a dictator” narratives vanish when there’s an opportunity to hobnob at a luxurious resort.

It’s almost laughable how predictable this is. For years, Morning Joe built its brand on breathless denunciations of Trump, feeding MSNBC’s base with apocalyptic warnings about democracy’s impending doom. Now, with Trump poised to return to the White House, they’re lining up for a photo op and a chance to get back on speaking terms. Why? Because, as many conservatives have long suspected, much of the left’s outrage machine is more performance art than principle.

Let’s not forget that Scarborough and Brzezinski were once friendly with Trump during his pre-presidency days. Their dramatic falling out—and subsequent years of vitriol—conveniently coincided with Trump’s rise as a political outsider. Now that the tides are shifting, they’re trying to hedge their bets. And who can blame them? It’s hard to stay relevant when your entire schtick has been painting Trump as the second coming of Hitler—only to quietly show up for drinks at his Florida estate.

This “reset” speaks volumes about the performative nature of the anti-Trump media class. For all their bluster, when push comes to shove, they’re just as eager for access as anyone else. And MSNBC viewers? They’re left holding the bag, realizing they’ve been played all along. Classic.