‘Morning Joe’ Meltdown as Michael Steele Slams Joe & Mika Over Trump
Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski are getting fresh backlash over their controversial meeting with President-elect Donald Trump in November, this time directly from one of their own regular guests.
On Friday’s (January 10) episode of the MSNBC news program, former chairman of the Republic National Committee, Michael Steele, challenged the hosts on their argument that people should “be civil” to Trump as he prepares to return to the White House later this month.
Steele, who serves as a co-host on MSNBC’s The Weekend, tried to make his point only to be talked over by Scarborough, who clearly took issue with what his co-worker had to say.
“Joe, you had your moment; let me just finish my point,” Steele said. “I’m telling you something you seem to forget, so let me make my point. You may not like it, but I’m going to make it.”
Steele continued, “The reality of it is, I take your civility argument, you like to say 78 million people voted for Donald Trump, well 82 million people voted for Joe Biden, and he didn’t get that civility that you’re talking about from Donald Trump in those four years.”
Joe Scarborough: Tell us something we don’t know.
Michael Steele: I’m telling you something that you seem to forget.#michaelSteele #morningJoe #JoeScarborough pic.twitter.com/HUy0etc0Cy
— PoliticalSis (@PoliticalSis82) January 10, 2025
“So now the expectation is, because he has won again and he’s got 78 million people, we all have to be civil to Donald Trump, well okay, I’m prepared to be civil,” he added before Scarborough interrupted.
“Nobody said that,” Scarborough retorted, growing increasingly flustered as his wife and co-host, Brzezinski, urged him to let Steele speak.
“You did!” Steele fired back.
Scarborough continued talking over Steele, emphasizing, “I didn’t say everybody has to stay civil.”
In November, Scarborough and Brzezinski faced backlash after they revealed they traveled to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump following his 2024 presidential victory. Defending their decision, Brzezinski stated, “Joe and I realized it’s time to do something different and that starts with not only talking about Donald Trump but also talking with him.”
On Friday’s Morning Joe, Steele added, “The reality is, no, you are using the term civil. I’m using your term, you put civility on the table… My main point is, everybody is looking at this from a one-way perspective; how we need to approach Donald Trump. How is he approaching us?”
“The man wants to lock up citizens, the man wants to turn the government against them, how are we supposed to respond to that? Are we supposed to be civil?” Steele stated.
“Do you think we don’t know that?” Scarborough replied. “Why do you feel the need to create false choices? You are twisting my words! You took me saying it’s not the end of the world that Barack Obama smiled and talked to Donald Trump, and you’re turning that into, ‘We have no idea.'”
“Then let me untwist them,” Steele countered. “Civility is a two-way street like I said at the beginning, and you attacked that.”
Steele was unable to finish his point as Scarborough once again interrupted to deny and deflect.
Viewers jumped onto social media to react to the heated debate, with one X user writing, “Good for Michael Steele…peep how condescending Scarborough got.”
“You could clearly see Steele got under Joe’s skin , because Joe’s face got red as hell, he needs to check his blood pressure meds,” said another.
“Michael Steele for speaking truth! Joe & Mika? You’re pathetic. You should be ashamed,” added another.
Another wrote, “Thanks Michael Steele. Joe Scarborough is a petulant child. Remember Joe and Mika have already been down to kiss the ring of Trump @ MaraLago.”
“Michael Steele says what we are all thinking and he doesn’t try to wrap it in a pretty package either,” one fan added.
“Michael Steele and Joe Scarborough goin at it this morning on Morning Joe. Damn good conversation. I’m with Michael Steele on this one,” said another.
You can watch the heated argument in the video above.
Morning Joe, Weekdays, 6a/5c, MSNBC
Conversation34 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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I am with Michael Steele on this one. Scarborough needs to stop interrupting his guest, it's a real problem!
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O
The show is better when Joe and Mika aren't there.
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I have not watched Joe and Mika since I found out they went to Mara Lago and bent the knee. Will never watch them again.
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Me either!!!!
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Totally with Michael. Joe is always going on and on consistently trying to make his point. Not letting others talk. Listen sometimes before talking to people that you might not agree with. Like you did when you went to Margo-lago.
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I am totally with Michael Steele. I stopped watching Joe and Mika for a while as Joe’s condescending attitude has become tiresome. I’m sure I will watch again at some point
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❤️ Michael Steele.
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I’m tired of Joe’s extremely loud interruptions of his guest, or Mika apologizing on their behalf. I commend Michael Steele for not walking out on Joe. Currently the best part of the show is the sports and then Mika will roll her eyes and cut people off. Yikes! They wear me down and the day hasn’t started. They’ve changed since the election and it shows. It doesn’t mean that I have to change with them. I went down their rabbit hole for two year’s before the election and was dumbfounded the day after the election. Then when they said that they went to Mar a largo I couldn’t believe it. Oh, it was well scripted. Mika making reference her father, and being diplomats, are you kidding me. I need to watch something else in the morning. Too bad Michael Steel has a weekend gig. Perhaps Willy or Jonathon could take over. Better yet, I need to stop watching because other people watch them. I can’t continue watching them play nice to some people and be disrespectful to their guest. Joe didn’t want to even hear Michael’s comments. I hope he finishes his thoughts on his show on Saturday.
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The "weekend" with Michael, et al is what I watch now. Also less of Joe S. and Mica -finding other stations with balanced news. Ask questions, then listen to the answers!!! Joe's ego is screaming from the screen. Moving away from MSNBC except Lawrence and Maddow
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Joe S. needs to be a listener. He cannot handle anyone disagreeing with him. HIs view isn't the end view
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I am totally with Michael Steele!! I was shocked and disappointed that J and M kissed the ring! I have not watched until today for some reason, I watched! Somebody needed to tell them what they didd was disappointing to viewers!
Joe appeared to be furious mainly bc no one ever stands up to him or Mika. They have lost political capital. Not as respected as before bc of the Mar a Lago kids the ring incident.
I watch Michael on Weekend!
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Michael Steel is right all the way! I was a Morning Joe follower until they went to kiss the ring after the election! I would like to see their show cut back a couple of hours and give some time to other MSNBC programs. Anyway, one of their hours is a repeat recording of their first hour, a wast of time!
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Scarborough should go away.
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Joe is out of touch and always over his other hosts who are better at their jobs Mikka is his enabler. Im with Steele. Put Willy in charge. Trump and Joe are tiring everyday. The show is hard to watch. Get some socil media guests. Less Joe more info.
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MSNBC - Want your ratings to go up! It's pretty simple. Replace Joe & Mika with the best! Nicole Wallace and Katie Phang
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C
How does this couple go down to Mar A Lago for any where from an hour to an hour and a half so they can open communication with Trump and then bash him every morning ??? Joe, to my knowledge, never really elaborated what they talked about for that 60 to 90 minutes.
Michael put him in his place while Mika was busy tugging on his sleeve. The MSNBC morning show has even taken a bigger nose dive and they are probably on the brink of changing the format or maybe even the usual morning suspects.
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I love Willy Geist. And Mika knew that Kamala NEEDED to choose Shapiro to win PA, and perhaps the election. I love when Jenn Psaki and Reverend Al join. And Pablo Torre's sports segments are great. Joe is your crazy Uncle at the table who has his opinion and talks over everyone. But he's part of the family.
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Mika's chief job now is nodding her head when Joe speaks and never disagreeing with him. Because Joe goes after her too. He is a classic bully. Mika talks about "Know your Value" and has written a book on it and has annual big meetings around the world on this topic. She should follow her own advice. She has lost credibility. She is no champion for women. Very disappointed.
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G
The Scarborough Trumpsters showed their true colors. Phony Mahonies.
“ Morning Steel “ please
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Joe & Mika must go!!
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Totally agree with Michael Steele. Was a longtime viewer but I was gone when Mika said: "Why wouldn't we?" about talking with him. Someone's got some compromat on them methinks...
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I used to watch "Morning Joe" for years, but stopped when Joe and Mika announced that they went down to Mar-a-Lago to kiss that felon's orange ass. The backlash was swift and well deserved. And then Joe had the audacity to have a total meltdown on air two days later as a result. Cause and effect morons. You two FAFO. And bravo to Michael Steele for throwing that civility crap back in their faces.
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I am appalled by the lack of backbone by Scarborough. You can not whitewash or normalize Trump and have any respect as an honest person. Huge respect for Michael Steele for speaking up. We need more of that.
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Kudos to Michael Steele! If I woukd the Carter famiky I would NOT have invited trump to the funeral, just as Cindy McCain did. I haven’t watched MJ since they went down to kiss the ring ofvthe slinebucket CONVOCTED felon.!
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Nicole Wallace is also a gem!
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The two went to see Trump in Maro Lago to kiss his a*** !!
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Did Michael Steele post what he wanted to say, LATER? After the show was over.
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Why does Joe have guess on his show? He does not even let his wife speak. I switch over to CNN when he start his rant. ..
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B
Me and my husband has watched Morn Joe for years but after he and his wife went and kissed the ring to secure their job and bow down to Trump, they are catering to him in order to stay on the air. NO BALLS! We will never watch your show ever again. As part of MSNBC's restructuring, Morn Joe should have been on top of the list to be cancelled.
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I stopped watching after they bent the knee, went to mar a lago and didn’t record the conversation as Bob Woodward does and trump said they “begged” him for a meeting. Now they are bending over backwards as the republicans are doing to defend trump and his evil policies and actions. They should have 1 iota of boldness as the Episcopal Bishop who confronted trump to his face. Mika always talks about “know your value” and she and Joe need to practice what she preaches. It is really sad to see what their show has devolved to. Hopefully their usual guests will have the nerve to challenge them as Michael Steel did and not appease them. Still will not watch except for Maddox Reid Wallace Phang O’Donnell The Weekend and Ruhle
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O
And this is why I don’t watch the show. Joe talks over everyone, especially his wife. He frequently demeans her or doesn’t let her finish her thought. Why she married him I’ll never understand.
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O
I think Joe's head is four times bigger than his body he needs to take a breath he blew it and needs to admit it to get viewers back !
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When two people are trying to talk over each other neither one is able to be heard. It just sounded like a lot of gibberish to me.
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Two losers on a network almost nobody watches ! Lol!
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