On Thursday, MSNBC’s Morning Joe dedicated a significant portion of its airtime, around eight minutes, to criticize Senator Mitch McConnell after his official endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Willie Geist, along with MSNBC contributors Jonathan Lemire, Mara Gay, and George Conway, took aim at McConnell, although other Republicans like Senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham also faced criticism.
Geist highlighted Trump’s previous racist attacks on McConnell’s wife, emphasizing McConnell’s endorsement despite these personal attacks. Scarborough drew a distinction between McConnell and Cruz, noting that Cruz, despite facing personal attacks from Trump, remained unwavering in his support. The conversation touched on Graham’s continued backing of Trump, with Scarborough sarcastically labeling him a “profile in courage.”
Geist: We also should add in that Donald Trump has relentlessly attacked, in a racist way, Mitch McConnell’s wife. But he says, you know what I have said for a long time that I will endorse whoever the nominee is, even if it’s the guy I blame for an attempted coup against the United States government.
Scarborough: Exactly. You know, here’s the thing, okay, we say a lot of bad things sometimes about Ted Cruz here, but let me once say there is a difference between Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz. If Donald Trump had ever attacked Ted Cruz’s wife, if he ever called her ugly, ever, ever struck out at her in the most personal of terms… That is Texas tough right there, man. No BS. You cross that cross that line with Ted, you know what? You might as well have crossed the Rio Grande, my friend.
Lemire: On the way to Cancun?
Scarborough concluded the discussion by expressing dismay at those who supported Trump despite personal insults and disrespect, emphasizing the prioritization of political reasons over personal integrity. He pointedly criticized individuals who, despite facing insults or racist slurs, justified their support for Trump based on political considerations.
People can insult someone’s wife or a husband, in Mitch McConnell’s case, continue racist slurs against his wife. And they’re just fine with it. I’m not even looking at Donald Trump there. Yeah I’m looking at these people. I’m looking at my former friends. But they go, “Yeah, he called you murderer. But I’m voting for him anyway. Regulations. You know, they’re going to be down under Trump.”
