MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle on Wednesday felt the wrath of liberal Twitter as she dared to give the Trump administration credit for getting criminal justice reform legislation through the Senate. Apparently, it’s shocking to her that some won’t allow praise of any kind for those in the administration. The host wouldn’t go so far as to praise Trump himself, however.
Talking to co-host Ali Velshi, Ruhle had to explain she isn’t going soft: “Twitter is aflutter right now saying, ‘What? You're forgiving the White House? You’re forgiving Jared?’ Two things can be true at the same time.”
Speaking of Jared Kushner’s efforts, Velshi explained, “Jared may have helped get this done.” He even allowed credit for Republicans at large: “It’s also a signature issue of a lot of Republicans in Congress and a signature issue of civil rights activists.”
“Give him credit,” Ruhle demanded. Not getting credit though? Specifically, Donald Trump. On Tuesday’s show, Ruhle drew a line at singling out the President:
TIM PHILLIPS (Americans for Prosperity): Why would we not have hope when he's [Trump] led the effort on criminal justice reform?
RUHLE: Okay, he hasn't led the effort.
PHILLIPS: Jared Kushner absolutely has.
RUHLE: Yes, but we're talking about President Trump.
PHILLIPS: Okay, the Trump administration, guys. Come on. I think we're going a little —
RUHLE: Members of the Trump administration. Jared Kushner had to twist Mitch McConnell's arm to even look at this. Mitch McConnell's own daughter —
PHILLIPS: Do you think he would do this without the president? Of course he wouldn’t.
One must draw the line somewhere, right?
MSNBC Live With Velshi and Ruhle
12/19/18
1:15
STEPHANIE RUHLE: Have you looked at Twitter?
ALI VELSHI: No.
RUHLE: Twitter is aflutter right now saying, “What? You're forgiving the White House? You’re forgiving Jared?” and two things can be true at the same time.
VELSHI: Jared may have helped get this done. This is a signature issue of his. It’s something that is important. It’s also a signature issue of a lot of Republicans in Congress and a signature issue of civil rights activists. This is exactly the point. There are a lot of people who think that criminal justice needs to fixed in this country.
RUHLE: And you can put that in column A and column B can still exist. That the Trump Foundation was forced to shut down. Trump University was forced to shut down. The inauguration.
VELSHI: Jared Kushner didn't get Mideast peace but contributing to a deal, everyone takes credit that does that.
RUHLE: Give him credit. That's cool. You know? Success.
RUHLE: There you go.
12/18/18
9:57TIM PHILLIPS (Americans for Prosperity): Why would we not have hope when he's led the effort on criminal justice reform?
RUHLE: Okay, he hasn't led the effort.
PHILLIPS: Jared Kushner absolutely has.
RUHLE: Yes, but we're talking about President Trump.
PHILLIPS: Okay, the Trump administration, guys. Come on. I think we're going a little —
RUHLE: Members of the trump administration. Jared Kushner had to twist Mitch McConnell's arm to even look at this. Mitch McConnell's own daughter —
PHILLIPS: Do you think he would do this without the president? Of course he wouldn’t.
