MSNBC's Morning Joe was certainly on a roll Thursday morning. While discussing the latest revelations hidden with former National Security Advisor John Bolton's tell-all book that was leaked yesterday afternoon, co-host Joe Scarborough went on a rant saying that President Trump wanted to kill journalists.
After touting Bolton's allegation that Trump supported the execution of journalists in China, Scarborough quickly made it all about the press here in the U.S, saying that he thought Trump would “execute” American journalists.
And then, of course, there's the little part of the book where he talks about how he supported the execution of journalists. Again, not a surprise. I think I said something on this show a month or two ago that he'd jail us and jail other people and possibly execute us if he had the opportunity to do that. Mika and I have been saying that for -- privately at least for some time. That's no surprise. This guy, the only thing that stops this guy from doing any of this, is the fact that we live in the United States of America and not Communist China.
The discussion about Bolton’s book continued to go downhill from there, ending with fellow co-host Mika Brzezinski’s insinuation that Trump committed “treason” by asking China to help him "win the election.”
Jonathan Lemire, I just -- I'm stuck on the part where he didn't do anything about this. He didn't say anything. He didn't perhaps even as Joe pointed out at the top of the show, go to a congressional -- go to Congress and -- I mean, is it treason, is it a criminal act to ask China to help you win the election because it certainly isn't the way the American system works.
But what was this supposedly treasonous act that Trump committed in talks with China? In an earlier part of the segment, Jonathan Lemire of the Associated Press told viewers it was simply a request that China purchase U.S. agricultural products.
The President was willing to deal with foreign countries to get electoral interference, he’s not asking for dirt on a political opponent like he did with Ukraine but he is asking China's help to help him retain the red states, the sort of farm state that he feels like he needs to win again in 2020, if China could buy soybeans and other agricultural products.
Making trade deals is one of Trump’s pursued goals in office, especially with China, as they signed a new trade deal with the U.S. just back in January. On top of that, making deals with foreign countries to benefit your upcoming reelection is nothing new. Just take it from former President Barack Obama, who asked Russia to give him “space” until after the 2012 election.
None of this, of course, mattered to Scarborough as he continued to attack Trump throughout the rest of his show, which has become the entire premise of the program. In the course of the last four years, Scarborough and Brzezinski have gone from personal lunches with President Trump to screaming at him on their morning show. Sad!
MSNBC’s Morning Joe
6-18-20
6:05 AM ET
JOE SCARBOROUGH: And then, of course, there's the little part of the book where he talks about how he supported the execution of journalists. Again, not a surprise. I think I said something on this show a month or two ago that he'd jail us and jail other people and possibly execute us if he had the opportunity to do that. Mika and I have been saying that for -- privately at least for some time. That's no surprise. This guy, the only thing that stops this guy from doing any of this, is the fact that we live in the United States of America and not Communist China.
(...)
6:12 AM ET
JOHNATHAN LEMIRE: The President was willing to deal with foreign countries to get electoral interference, he’s not asking for dirt on a political opponent like he did with Ukraine but he is asking China's help to help him retain the red states, the sort of farm state that he feels like he needs to win again in 2020, if China could buy soybeans and other agricultural products.
(...)
7:17 AM ET
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Jonathan Lemire, I just -- I'm stuck on the part where he didn't do anything about this. He didn't say anything. He didn't perhaps even as Joe pointed out at the top of the show, go to a congressional -- go to Congress and -- I mean, is it treason, is it a criminal act to ask China to help you win the election because it certainly isn't the way the American system works.
