On Friday’s NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer observed that Britain’s vote to leave the European Union “would appear in the short term...[to be] a victory for Donald Trump and his political world view over Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and their political world view.” He turned to Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd and wondered: “Does Donald Trump get a bump out of this?”
Todd wouldn’t go that far but did issue a warning to his liberal media colleagues: “I don't know if he gets a bump out of it, but it is a reminder why we, in whatever you want to call us, the political or media elite, need to not underestimate Donald Trump.”
He declared: “...there has been a worldwide trend in western democracies of a couple of things. Number one, angry middle classes...of essentially a move toward isolationism, which is, ‘You know what? Let them deal with their own problems, let's look inward.’ That's what the UK made the decision to do and that’s Donald Trump's message in a nutshell.”
After fellow co-host Savannah Guthrie asked about Trump taking a break from the campaign trail to open a new golf course in Scotland, Todd complained: “He dragged an entire press corps over to Scotland to help essentially promote the opening of a new golf course. And so, I think it undermines the message he’s trying to use against Hillary Clinton, that the Clintons do – use politics for their own benefit. He’s using his campaign for his own benefit.”
Here is a full transcript of the June 24 segment:
7:11 AM ET
MATT LAUER: Let’s bring in Chuck Todd. Chuck, good morning to you.
CHUCK TODD: Good morning.
LAUER: For all the reasons Bill Neely and Chris Dickey laid out in their segments, it would appear in the short term this is a victory for Donald Trump and his political world view over Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and their political world view. Does Donald Trump get a bump out of this?
TODD: I don't know if he gets a bump out of it, but it is a reminder why we, in whatever you want to call us, the political or media elite, need to not underestimate Donald Trump. There is a – there has been a worldwide trend in western democracies of a couple of things. Number one, angry middle classes, okay? It’s not just in America where you feel as if you can't get ahead, where there’s been this economic decay. So in that case it matches it. And then, yes, it obviously matches his politics. This idea – and again a worldwide trend in western democracies – of essentially a move toward isolationism, which is, “You know what? Let them deal with their own problems, let's look inward.” That's what the UK made the decision to do and that’s Donald Trump's message in a nutshell.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: And Chuck, let's talk about this trip because he happens to be in Scotland, he happens to be at the center of the political universe right now, but he's not there for a typical foreign trip that a candidate takes. He's actually there to promote his golf course and, as I understand it, doesn't have any meetings with foreign leaders. What do you make of it?
TODD: Well, I'll tell you – and especially coming this week. You know, earlier this week he made a case, and he wanted to lay out this case – and I think an opponent can do this to the Clintons – that somehow the Clintons do whatever – they use politics to benefit themselves. Right? That's essentially what Donald Trump was accusing Hillary Clinton of doing earlier this week. But he is, it may be an effective message, but is he the best messenger when he's using his campaign to do what? He dragged an entire press corps over to Scotland to help essentially promote the opening of a new golf course. And so, I think it undermines the message he’s trying to use against Hillary Clinton, that the Clintons do – use politics for their own benefit. He’s using his campaign for his own benefit.
LAUER: Alright, Chuck Todd. Chuck, thanks very much.
