MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski traveled to Mar-a-Lago over the weekend for a face-to-face interview with Donald Trump, marking the first time in years that the pair had met with the former president in person. Their relationship with Trump, once friendly, had soured during his presidency due to frequent criticism, but the pair made the trip in an effort to “bury the hatchet.”
Brzezinski explained that their decision to visit came after hearing concerns from both political leaders and ordinary citizens about Trump’s Cabinet picks and the state of the country. She said, “Over the past week, Joe and I have heard from so many people, deeply dismayed by several of President-elect Trump’s Cabinet selections and they are scared. Last Thursday, we expressed our own concerns on this broadcast and even said we would appreciate the opportunity to speak with the president-elect himself.”
On Friday, that opportunity came through, and the pair traveled to Mar-a-Lago, where they sat down with Trump. Brzezinski recalled that it had been seven years since their last in-person meeting with him. “It was the first time we have seen him in seven years,” she said.
Since their last interaction, tensions had risen, with Trump accusing Scarborough of being involved in a conspiracy theory surrounding the death of a congressional staffer and reportedly threatening his producers with arrest should he be re-elected. Scarborough reflected on the time that had passed since they last met, saying, “We talked about a lot of issues, including abortion, mass deportation, threats of political retribution against political opponents and media outlets. We talked about that a good bit. It will come as no surprise to anybody who watches this show that we didn’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues, and we told him so.”
Despite their disagreements, the meeting was seen as an opportunity to restart communication. Brzezinski shared, “What we did agree on was to restart communications. My father, Zbigniew Brzezinski, often spoke with world leaders with whom he profoundly disagreed. That is a task shared by reporters and commentators alike.” She emphasized the need for dialogue, especially during such divisive times.
In addition to personal issues, the pair and Trump also discussed some of the nation’s most pressing political issues. Trump appeared upbeat during the meeting and expressed a desire to find common ground with Democrats on certain issues. Brzezinski pointed out that, despite their differences, it was crucial to continue to engage with leaders from all sides. “Five years of political warfare has deeply divided Washington and the country,” she said, acknowledging the urgency for change.
Scarborough also reflected on the larger political landscape, noting that Trump, as a non-candidate, might approach his second term with a different mindset. “Somebody close to Donald Trump told me this past weekend, this is a president who is not seeking re-election, so maybe, just maybe now could be time for both parties to get to work,” Scarborough explained. “A lot of Democratic leaders we’ve talked to recently have told Mika and me, it’s time for a new approach.”
Brzezinski added that while it seemed unlikely that significant cooperation would happen immediately, both parties should make an effort to coexist peacefully. “The question is, though, how do we get there? Hyperbole and personal attacks will not work,” she said, stressing that a more constructive approach was necessary. She also cautioned against using impeachment or political trials as a means of attack, citing how such tactics had only strengthened figures like Bill Clinton and Trump.
Though their visit to Mar-a-Lago was seen by some as controversial, Scarborough made it clear that their goal was not to defend or normalize Trump, but to report on him honestly. “We are not here to defend or normalize Donald Trump,” he said. “We are here to report on him and to hopefully provide you insights that will better equip all of us in understanding these deeply unsettling times.”
The meeting, despite its tension, marked a significant moment in the ongoing political discourse, as both Brzezinski and Scarborough made clear they would continue to hold leaders, including Trump, accountable while exploring ways to move beyond the current political polarization. Scarborough summed up the approach, quoting the legendary editor Marty Garron: “We are not going to war, we are going to work.”
Watch the video below:
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