The hysteria on MSNBC and NBC was palpable on Tuesday as correspondents warned of America’s international alliances crumbling if President Trump were to win reelection while also touting how foreign nations were rooting for a Joe Biden victory. In addition to all that delusional ranting, reporters compared Trump to “strong men” dictators who to try to “cling to power.”
“Between this country’s extreme political polarization and the President’s repeated accusations of voter fraud, election observers around the world are feeling just as anxious as Americans,” MSNBC anchor Katy Tur announced late in the 2:00 p.m. hour of the left-wing cable channel’s special Election Day coverage. She then breathlessly added: “For the first time ever, the Carter Center, which was founded by former President Jimmy Carter in the 1980s to strengthen democracies in foreign countries and monitor their elections, has made the decision to unofficially monitor the U.S. election.”
Turning to chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel, Tur noted that “this election has consequences for our adversaries and our foes abroad.” Engel agreed and immediately sounded the alarm about a Trump win:
America’s allies, where I am in the U.K., France, Germany, they’re watching with great concern. They worry that NATO, that this partnership which has been damaged over the last four years might not be able to survive four more years of President Trump....when you talk to Chinese officials and read the editorials, they’re hoping that four more years of President Trump will do fundamental harm to the United States and eliminate the United States as a rival. And then, of course, there are the strong men who have had a very good time over the last four years, in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. And they are worried about losing an ally.
Speaking of “strong men,” Engel eagerly picked up on Tur’s introduction and suggested the world viewed Trump as a similar authoritarian:
And then there are the election monitors that you just brought up. They’re watching the tactics, the voting that is taking place in the U.S. and they are very concerned. They are worried about voter intimidation, attempts to discredit the polls, attempts to limit who gets to vote and how votes are counted. The same kind of red flags that come up time and time again when strong men try to cling to power. And as history has shown, oftentimes these tactics work and sometimes the strong men do cling to power.
When Tur again hyped U.S. allies fearing a Trump victory, Engel wailed: “Will NATO be able to survive another four years? Will this idea of a global partnership with the United States supporting democratic norms around the world, will that continue? So yes, there is a lot of concern among our allies.”
On NBC’s Today show Tuesday morning, international correspondent Keir Simmons melodramatically proclaimed that the American election “has divided people around the world” and that “billions are holding their breath” awaiting the outcome. He even promoted: “This morning, America’s election making headlines around the world....’Fears for democracy,’ says one U.K. newspaper.” That came from the left-wing publication The Guardian.
“In Mexico, strong feelings,” Simmons noted, followed by a soundbite of a Mexican citizen ranting: “There’s been a lot of animosity because of Trump’s presidency.” The reporter then happily touted: “Most of Europe has made up its mind. Just 10% of Germans in a Pew poll said they had confidence in President Trump....In the U.K., America’s closest ally, only 19% of people said they approved of America’s president.”
Simmons barely mentioned major diplomatic breakthroughs that occurred during the Trump presidency:
While many countries like Saudi Arabia, India, Brazil and Israel favor President Trump. Last year, 71% of Israelis expressed confidence in President Trump’s handling of global affairs....The Trump administration brought Israel together with neighbors like the UAE and Bahrain, leaving out the Palestinians.
Wrapping up his report, Simmons highlighted an issue near and dear to the hearts of liberal activists everywhere: “And tomorrow, America will leave the Paris Climate Accord. There is perhaps no more important international issue than the environment. And depending on today’s vote, America will go in different directions.”
The idea that the same leftist media that has spent years constantly fearmongering about foreign election interference would make its closing argument for the Biden campaign be that foreign countries want Trump out of office is truly laughable.
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Here is a full transcript of the November 3 segment on MSNBC:
2:52 PM ET
KATY TUR: Between this country’s extreme political polarization and the President’s repeated accusations of voter fraud, election observers around the world are feeling just as anxious as Americans. For the first time ever, the Carter Center, which was founded by former President Jimmy Carter in the 1980s to strengthen democracies in foreign countries and monitor their elections, has made the decision to unofficially monitor the U.S. election. Joining me now, NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel.
It’s not just that, Richard, this election has consequences for our adversaries and our foes abroad. Tell me who’s watching and what matters.
RICHARD ENGEL: Well, I think everyone is watching right now. And if you look at the world, perhaps you can divide it into three different categories. You could have America’s allies, where I am in the U.K., France, Germany, they’re watching with great concern. They worry that NATO, that this partnership which has been damaged over the last four years might not be able to survive four more years of President Trump.
Then there are the adversaries – China, Russia, Iran, they’re hoping for big change. Iran in particular, with Russia and China more or less rooting for President Trump. Although China being somewhat divided, probably because, and this is when you talk to Chinese officials and read the editorials, they’re hoping that four more years of President Trump will do fundamental harm to the United States and eliminate the United States as a rival.
And then, of course, there are the strong men who have had a very good time over the last four years, in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. And they are worried about losing an ally. So globally, yes, this has – this election has enormous consequences.
And then there are the election monitors that you just brought up. They’re watching the tactics, the voting that is taking place in the U.S. and they are very concerned. They are worried about voter intimidation, attempts to discredit the polls, attempts to limit who gets to vote and how votes are counted. The same kind of red flags that come up time and time again when strong men try to cling to power. And as history has shown, oftentimes these tactics work and sometimes the strong men do cling to power.
So the question tonight and all the coverage today is, America is deciding. But is America deciding right now? Or is America just setting up a court case to come that will be battled out in the United States. Internationally, a lot of observers have become quite sophisticated at watching the American electoral process and they know that it might not be over in the next 12, 24 hours or so.
TUR: Richard, if Donald Trump wins again tonight, what does that mean for our alliances? Do they feel strong about them?
ENGEL: The alliances are – particularly here in Europe – are deeply concerned. They have been able to hold on to this relationship with the United States, but if you look at the amount of damage and criticism that NATO has sustained and that NATO has had to endure. There are tremendous questions about the resilience of NATO. Will NATO be able to survive another four years? Will this idea of a global partnership with the United States supporting democratic norms around the world, will that continue? So yes, there is a lot of concern among our allies.
TUR: Richard Engel from London. Richard, thank you so much.
Here is a full transcript of the report on NBC’s Today show:
8:16 AM ET
HODA KOTB: We are back, it’s 8:16. Craig joins us once again. And guys, it goes without saying that no matter who wins tonight – or this month – today’s election is a pivotal moment in the history of our country.
CRAIG MELVIN: Yeah, not just a big day here though, there’s also a lot at stake on a global scale as well and the world is certainly watching. Today senior international correspondent Keir Simmons is in London with that part of the story. Keir, good morning to you.
KEIR SIMMONS: Hey, Craig, good morning to you. That’s absolutely right. This election hasn’t just polarized people there, it has divided people around the world. And the results will reverberate globally. It’s fair to say billions are holding their breath.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: The World Is Watching; Inside Look at International Interest in American Election]
This morning, America’s election making headlines around the world, anxiously awaiting the outcome. “Fears for democracy,” says one U.K. newspaper. Even Russia, accused of election meddling, left watching and waiting this morning. “We will accept any decision of the American people,” President Putin says. In Mexico, strong feelings.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: There’s been a lot of animosity because of Trump’s presidency.
SIMMONS: In Afghanistan, America’s longest war, fears of a U.S. troop withdrawal.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Because 35 million Afghan lives depend on it.
SIMMONS: And a Taliban resurgence.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN B: We are not agree with Taliban coming because they still want to beat women.
SIMMONS: Most of Europe has made up its mind. Just 10% of Germans in a Pew poll said they had confidence in President Trump.
PETER BEYER [GERMAN LAWMAKER]: The damage has been done to the transatlantic relations.
SIMMONS: In the U.K., America’s closest ally, only 19% of people said they approved of America’s president. While many countries like Saudi Arabia, India, Brazil and Israel favor President Trump. Last year, 71% of Israelis expressed confidence in President Trump’s handling of global affairs.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN B: I think he had a very big impact on the Middle East, a good impact. He loves Israel very much.
SIMMONS: The Trump administration brought Israel together with neighbors like the UAE and Bahrain, leaving out the Palestinians. President Trump confronted Iran, but its supreme leader this morning claiming it doesn’t matter who wins. “Our policy does not change with the movement of individuals,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
China is now seen on both sides of the aisle as the number one challenge for America’s next president, economically and increasingly militarily.
SEN. JAMES RISCH [®-ID) FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN]: This is not a Republican/Democrat issue. This is an American issue. And it is the issue of the 21st Century.
SIMMONS: The world witnessing an election unlike any other.
JOE BIDEN: Will you shut up, man.
SIMMONS: From the bitter back and forths to casting doubts on the process.
DONALD TRUMP: You know, we have a day that’s called November 3rd. We don’t have a date that says many days later. The whole world is waiting to find out.
SIMMONS: And tomorrow, America will leave the Paris Climate Accord. There is perhaps no more important international issue than the environment. And depending on today’s vote, America will go in different directions.
But think about this, Craig, around the world millions of people don’t have a vote in this election and don’t even have a vote for their own leader. Just by going and voting today, America is demonstrating democracy. And, Craig, America is at its best when it leads by example.
MELVIN: Hear, hear to that. Keir Simmons with a look at how our friends and foes alike are trying to make sense of it. Keir, thank you.
