MSNBC Hosts’ Meeting with Trump Sparks Debate

MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski have come under scrutiny after holding a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The purpose of the meeting, according to the hosts, was to «reopen lines of communication» in an effort to better serve their morning show audience. The meeting, which took place amidst heightened tensions following the election, has drawn mixed reactions from their viewers and critics of the «Morning Joe» show.

«It was the first time we have seen him in seven years,» Brzezinski noted during Monday’s broadcast. She described Trump as «cheerful, upbeat,» while acknowledging that their discussions involved contentious topics. However, Brzezinski emphasized the importance of dialogue, stating, «What we did agree on was to restart communications.» She further referenced her father, Zbigniew Brzezinski, a national security adviser in the Carter administration, who often communicated with global leaders despite disagreements.

Trump confirmed the meeting in a statement to Fox News Digital, expressing his appreciation for the initiative. «I very much appreciated the fact that they wanted to have open communication,» he said, adding that such communications should have occurred sooner.

The reaction to the meeting has been polarizing. On «The View,» co-host Sunny Hostin emphasized the necessity of an independent press to «speak truth to power,» expressing doubts about the need for such a meeting. Conversely, Alyssa Farah Griffin, also a co-host, commended the MSNBC hosts for acknowledging Trump’s significant voter base.

Jeff Jarvis, a retired journalism professor, criticized the meeting, describing it as «a disgusting show of obeisance.» Conservative commentator Buck Sexton called the meeting «astounding,» remarking on social media platform X, «Trump’s victory is so complete, ‘Morning Joe’ has fully surrendered.» Greta Van Susteren, another veteran media personality, also expressed skepticism.

The «Morning Joe» show, like many programs on MSNBC, has experienced a decline in ratings since the election, a trend reflective of viewer disengagement after a losing party’s defeat, but often sees viewers return over time. A network spokesman stated that neither Scarborough nor Brzezinski was available for further comment following the broadcast. Scarborough himself anticipated the criticism and clarified, «We’re not here to defend or normalize Donald Trump. We’re here to report on him and hopefully provide you with insights.»