It was one year ago this October That Joe Scarborough boldly predicted Donald Trump would “cash out” and not run in 2020. Appearing on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, the Morning Joe host the President would quit: “I don't think Donald Trump is going to run for reelection. He didn't want to be elected for president. He didn't think he was going to be elected.”
The mind reading continued as Scarborough insisted, “He didn’t even think he was going to get the Republican nomination. He's going to cash out.”
Regarding possible 2020 primary challengers, Scarborough botched that prediction, saying they weren’t necessary: “I will say it again I don't think that they will have to step up to challenge Donald Trump.” (Because, remember, the President isn’t running for reelection, according to the MSNBC host.)
Of course, it’s October of 2019. Anything could happen in the next year. But, so far, Scarborough’s prediction hasn’t aged well.
For more examples from our flashback series, which we call the NewsBusters Time Machine, go here.
A partial transcript of the October 18, 2018 segment is below:
Late Show With Stephen Colbert
10/18/18
STEPHEN COLBERT: Usually, even if you have a sitting president, there's somebodywho challenges the incumbent president, if only they kind of give the president a workout during the primary season, keep him in the news, keep him in the news cycle. Do you think there is anyone who will step up and challenge President Trump in 2020?
JOE SCARBOROUGH: I think so. But I will say it again I don't think that they will have to step up to challenge Donald Trump because I don't think Donald Trump is going to run for reelection. He didn't want to be elected for president. He didn't think he was going to be elected. He didn’t even think he was going to get the Republican nomination. He's going to cash out.
