In a stunning revelation that has left both the media and political world buzzing, MSNBC’s *Morning Joe* co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski admitted Monday to meeting with President-elect Donald Trump in Florida to “restart communications.” This move comes after years of relentless criticism of Trump from the couple, making this rare, face-to-face encounter particularly noteworthy.
The meeting, which took place at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate on Friday, marked the first time Scarborough and Brzezinski had sat down with the president-elect in seven years. The couple, who have spent much of their careers attacking Trump on air, now find themselves walking a fine line as they navigate the aftermath of his overwhelming election victory. In an age where political warfare has become the norm in Washington, it’s not every day that former adversaries turn into potential allies.
“We’ve been as clear as we know how in expressing our deep concerns about President Trump’s actions and words in the coarsening of public debate,” Brzezinski, 57, opened Monday’s show. For years, she and Scarborough have been vocal critics of Trump’s rhetoric, policies, and leadership style. But, as Brzezinski pointed out, there’s a new reality in American politics: “For nearly 80 million Americans, election denialism, public trials, and January 6th were not as important as the issues that moved them to send Donald Trump back to the White House with their vote.”
The decision to meet with Trump was, in part, a recognition that the country had moved forward, and for better or worse, the voters had made their decision. Brzezinski and Scarborough, realizing that “it’s time to do something different,” acknowledged that they had to shift their approach. “That starts with not only talking about Donald Trump but also talking with him,” she added.
Scarborough, 61, revealed that the conversation with Trump covered several hot-button issues, including abortion, mass deportation, and the president’s threats of political retribution against opponents and media outlets. According to Scarborough, the trio didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye on many issues, and they weren’t afraid to let Trump know their concerns. But one thing became clear from the discussion: it was time to put aside the bitterness and try to find common ground.
“What we did agree on was to restart communications,” Brzezinski said. While the duo had not been shy about criticizing Trump on-air, they were willing to acknowledge that there was potential for dialogue moving forward. Trump, for his part, appeared to be in good spirits, with Brzezinski noting that he seemed both “cheerful and upbeat” during the meeting.
Trump himself spoke to *Fox News Digital* about the encounter, calling it “extremely cordial” and praising the pair for their willingness to open lines of communication. Trump also expressed his satisfaction with the 2024 campaign, calling it “great” and “flawless,” a sentiment Brzezinski and Scarborough echoed during the meeting. “They congratulated me on running a ‘great and flawless campaign, one for the history books,’ which I really believe it was,” Trump said. He also hinted that the meeting, in many ways, had come too late. “It’s too bad that it wasn’t done long ago,” he added.
While Scarborough and Brzezinski sought to play the role of unbiased commentators, their sudden shift in tone and willingness to meet with the president-elect has led to a flurry of criticism. Many on social media have labeled the move as an act of desperation, with some accusing the duo of “bending the knee” to Trump in an attempt to salvage their declining viewership. One conservative commentator, Scott Jennings, quipped on X (formerly Twitter), “Hitler getting a lot more meeting requests than I would’ve thought,” referencing the couple’s past comparisons of Trump to the infamous dictator.
Byron York, Chief Political Correspondent for the *Washington Examiner*, tweeted, “Annals of shamelessness: They call Trump a fascist, and much, much more, and then, just 22 days after his ‘Nazi-like’ rally, they fly to Florida for an audience.” Other critics went further, suggesting that Scarborough and Brzezinski weren’t seeking unity but were rather motivated by a plummeting network viewership. “Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski didn’t go to Mar-a-Lago to achieve unity with Trump. They went because their network is down 50% viewership and is on the verge of being sold – so they went and kissed the ring,” one user posted on X.
In a bid to defend their actions, Scarborough clarified that they were not trying to “defend or normalize” Trump. Instead, they saw their role as reporters who needed to provide viewers with an unvarnished look at the political landscape. “We are here to report on him and to hopefully provide you insights that are going to better equip all of us in understanding these deeply unsettling times,” he said during his show.
The media’s sudden shift in tone toward Trump, coupled with this meeting, reflects a larger trend in American politics: the need for unity, or at least civility, in the face of deepening polarization. Trump himself, who has long been a polarizing figure, expressed his willingness to engage with both sides, but with a warning: if he continues to be treated unfairly by the media, he won’t hesitate to end the dialogue.
“I am not looking for retribution, grandstanding, or to destroy people who treated me very unfairly,” Trump told *Fox News*. “I am always looking to give a second and even third chance, but never willing to give a fourth chance. That is where I hold the line.”
Whether Scarborough and Brzezinski’s meeting with Trump marks a turning point in their relationship with the president-elect, only time will tell. For now, it serves as a reminder that, in today’s polarized political landscape, even the most vocal critics can find common ground when faced with the undeniable will of the people.
