After all three of Monday’s network evening newscasts hyped left-wing “Not My Presidents’ Day” protests across the country, on Tuesday, the ABC, CBS, and NBC morning shows took the anti-Trump fervor international as they promoted similar demonstrations in London and the British Parliament debating whether or not President Trump should be permitted a state visit to the U.K.
On ABC’s Good Morning America, co-host Robin Roberts introduced a full report on the topic by announcing: “And overseas, President Trump is facing public anger and attacks from the British Parliament...” Chief foreign correspondent Terry Moran proclaimed: “Across Europe, President Trump is stirring controversy and unease. Parliament debating a petition signed by nearly 2 million Britons demanding that Mr. Trump's trip here later this year be downgraded.”
A soundbite followed of Member of Parliament Tulip Siddiq ranting: “We should not be inviting him to preach hatred and spread his bigotry, his misogyny, and his division.” GMA ignored other British lawmakers who defended the American president.
On CBS This Morning, co-host Gayle King breathlessly declared:
The United Kingdom is gripped by a fierce debate of whether President Trump deserves at recognition of a formal state visit. Thousands of people took to London streets last night to protest the invitation. Many argue having Mr. Trump officially welcomed by the Queen would be an embarrassment to the Crown. Petition opposing the visit has nearly two million visitors.
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Unlike Moran’s report on ABC, CBS’s Charlie D’Agata at least acknowledged both sides of the debate:
STEPHEN DOUGHTY [LABOUR PARTY MP]: We cannot accept denigration of a free press, the denigration of a judiciary, the denigration women, the denigration of religious minorities. It wouldn't be acceptable for any country but it certainly should not from our greatest ally.
D’AGATA: MP Kirsten Oswald accusing them of cozying up to the President.
KRISTEN OSWALD [SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY MP]: This Islamophobic, misogynistic leader of the free world. Instead, as one of my constituents said to me, of having the [bleeped] to stand up and show some kind of moral backbone.
D’AGATA: But those in defense of President Trump like conservative MP Nigel Evans said critics should get over it.
NIGEL EVANS [CONSERVATIVE PARTY MP]: He’s going to go down in history as roundly condemned of being the only politician for delivering on his promises! We are actually attacking the American people, the 61 million people who voted for Donald Trump.
D’Agata explained: “Traditionally, U.S. Presidents have to wait years for a state visit, if they get one at all. President Trump only had to wait seven days. That triggered the petition and protests last night, arguing that a state visit would be an embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen.”
NBC’s Today only included a brief mention from correspondent Peter Alexander: “In London, thousands gathered outside Parliament as the government there debated the President's official state visit.” A clip played of one unidentified member of Parliament claiming: “The President behaving like a petulant child.” Another British legislator, in favor of Trump’s visit, demanded: “He is there, he is elected. We have to work with him.”
On Monday, CNN used the controversy to mock the President, posing the question on screen: “Can God Save the Queen...From Trump?”
Here are excerpts of the February 21 coverage on the ABC, CBS, and NBC morning shows:
Good Morning America
7:07 AM ET
ROBIN ROBERTS: And overseas, President Trump is facing public anger and attacks from the British Parliament as Vice President Pence tried to reassure America's NATO allies. ABC's chief foreign correspondent Terry Moran has the latest, he joins us this morning from London. Good morning, Terry.
TERRY MORAN: Good morning, Robin. Well, President Trump has become priority number one for Europeans, it’s not just government leaders trying to figure out the new American regime, it's also that the President dominates conversations over here and sparks protests. So for top U.S. officials, there's a lot of work to be done.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Pence Makes First Overseas Trip; Reassures Allies of U.S. Commitment to NATO]
This morning, Vice President Mike Pence is back in the U.S. after his mission to reassure rattled allies in Europe.
LONDON PROTESTERS [CHANTING]: Immigrants are here to stay!
MORAN: Across Europe, President Trump is stirring controversy and unease. Parliament debating a petition signed by nearly 2 million Britons demanding that Mr. Trump's trip here later this year be downgraded.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Trump Sparks Unease Across Europe; Opposition to President’s U.K. Visit]
TULIP SIDDIQ [UK MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT]: We should not be inviting him to preach hatred and spread his bigotry, his misogyny, and his division.
(...)
CBS This Morning
8:05 AM ET
GAYLE KING: The United Kingdom is gripped by a fierce debate of whether President Trump deserves at recognition of a formal state visit. Thousands of people took to London streets last night to protest the invitation. Many argue having Mr. Trump officially welcomed by the Queen would be an embarrassment to the Crown. Petition opposing the visit has nearly two million visitors. Charlie D’Agata is outside the houses of Parliament in London where that petition prompted some heated words. Charlie, good morning.
CHARLIE D’AGATA: Good morning. Heated words over to whether or not President Trump has a right to an official visit, Meet with the Queen, maybe stay at the palace, the whole shebang. Mostly this is a chance to vent, both inside that building and out.
PARLIAMENT MEMBER #1: In my view, Mr. Trump is a disgusting, immoral man.
PARLIAMENT MEMBER #2: If we were, as a result of this debate, to rescind this invitation it could be catastrophic.
MAN: Here, here, here.
D’AGATA: This, a fierce debate over whether President Trump should be stripped of a state visit.
(...)
Today
7:07 AM ET(...)
PETER ALEXANDER: The President’s announcement [of General H.R. McMaster as national security adviser] coming exactly one month after taking office as demonstrators gathered in cities across the country, billing it as “Not My President's Day.” In New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: “Not My President’s Day” Protests; Nationwide Anti-Trump Rallies, As UK Debates Trump State Visit]
In London, thousands gathered outside Parliament as the government there debated the President's official state visit.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN [UK MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT]: The President behaving like a petulant child.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN B [UK MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT]: He is there, he is elected. We have to work with him.
(...)
