Reacting to the decision by NBC News to suspend NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams for six months following his Iraq war lies, Today 9 a.m. hour co-host Willie Geist acknowledged it was "kind of a difficult and strange morning." Fellow co-host Natalie Morales added: "...it is a difficult day here and we are certainly sharing our best wishes with Brian. It's a tough time for him and his family, so we hope and pray for the best."
After statements were read from NBC executives addressing the ongoing scandal, Geist observed: "We all agree with, I think, the decision on the professional angle. You cannot mislead, this is what we do. Truth and transparency is – it's our trade."
He continued: "On the other hand, Brian's a friend of ours. We're just – we'll be transparent about that, too. We like Brian a whole lot and this is a job he's wanted all his life and a job he's been great at and now something that's been taken away from him. So, completely understand the professional angle of it, he did something he shouldn't have done, but we hurt for our friend."
On MSNBC's Morning Joe, Geist went further, stating that Williams's anchor role had been "taken away from him for six months and possibly forever."
On Today, Morales described Williams as "A good guy who's done a lot of good for good people as well."
Earlier on the morning show, co-host Matt Lauer described the controversy as "a story that hits very close to home." Following the network's first full report on the topic, he noted: "It probably goes without saying for you folks at home, but this is a very difficult story for us to report on because it is so, so personal in so many ways. Most importantly, Brian is not only a colleague of ours here, but he's a really good friend."
Co-host Savannah Guthrie declared: "We all care a lot about Brian. That's what makes this so hard. We also care a lot about this place, the standards of NBC News. And that's what NBC is trying to balance here. So we can only say we wish the best for Brian in this time, we hope the best for NBC as well, and we look forward to Brian's return."
Here is a full transcript of the hosts discussing the scandal at the top of the 9 a.m. ET hour on February 11:
9:00 AM ET
WILLIE GEIST: Well, as many of you know by now, it's kind of a difficult and strange morning around here. NBC News has decided to suspend Brian Williams from his role as managing editor and anchor of Nightly News for six months without pay. This is in the wake of comments Brian made about his experience covering the early days of the Iraq war, that was back in 2003. Brian said he was on a chopper that took RPG and AK-47 fire, when in fact he was on a different helicopter.
AL ROKER: So on his broadcast last week, as we know, Brian apologized, then late last night NBC News president Deborah Turness said Brian "misrepresented events" and called it "wrong and completely inappropriate for somebody in Brian's position."
TAMRON HALL: Also, NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke said, "By his actions, Brian has jeopardized the trust millions of Americans place in NBC News. His actions are inexcusable and this suspension is severe and appropriate. Brian's life's work is delivering the news. I know Brian loves his country, NBC News and his colleagues. He deserves a second chance and we are rooting for him. Brian has shared his deep remorse with me and he is committed to winning back everyone's trust."
NATALIE MORALES: Yes, and as we've been reporting also, there is an internal review underway. In the meantime, Lester Holt is going to be taking over as Nightly News anchor in the interim. And I think we all are feeling – it is a difficult day here and we are certainly sharing our best wishes with Brian. It's a tough time for him and his family, so we hope and pray for the best.
GEIST: There two parts to it, there's professional and personal. We all agree with, I think, the decision on the professional angle. You cannot mislead, this is what we do. Truth and transparency is – it's our trade. On the other hand, Brian's a friend of ours. We're just – we'll be transparent about that, too. We like Brian a whole lot and this is a job he's wanted all his life and a job he's been great at and now something that's been taken away from him. So, completely understand the professional angle of it, he did something he shouldn't have done, but we hurt for our friend.
MORALES: Absolutely. A good guy who's done a lot of good for good people as well.
GEIST: Yeah.
