By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-11 15:36:01 | Updated at 2026-06-16 07:37:57
4 days ago
MS NOW hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski addressed President Donald Trump's Truth Social attack against them mid-broadcast.
The moment occurred about an hour into Wednesday's Morning Joe.
The co-hosts had just held a panel about Trump's reported attempts to quash a July Wall Street Journal article that included a description of a suggestive drawing and letter that bore Trump's name and was sent to Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump posted at 6:55am: 'Joe Scarborough’s ever shrinking, low rated show, one of the most inaccurate detailers of truthful facts on television, is being crushed in the ratings.'
He accused Scarborough of having 'a serious case of Trump Derangement Syndrome' and being a 'laughing stock among those who know what is going on in the "Wonderful World of Television."'
'His show is being cut because his ratings are TERRIBLE,' Trump, 79, continued, before an apparent typo and shot at the show's third cohost.
In the process, the President gave a nod to retired CBS correspondent Bill Geist.
'And Mike [sic] and Willie [Geist], who wants to be his father but doesn’t have the talent, are falling further and further into the TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) Swamp!
Joe Scarborough stopped Wednesday's Morning Joe to address a Truth Social attack from Donald Trump
Trump posted at 6:55am after Scarborough held a panel that touched on a New York Times Magazine report about Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
'They all suffer from Low Ratings Disease!!!'
Scarborough, 63, responded within minutes, largely laughing off the missive.
'Did this just happen? Did Donald just write us?' he said.
Both he and Brzezinski, 59, appeared amused that the president was watching.
The host proceeded to read the entire post out loud.
When he reached the part about 'being crushed in the ratings,' he jokingly lamented: 'It's so sad. I don't, I don't know what I'm going to do, Mr. President.'
As to the alleged case of 'Trump derangement syndrome,' Scarborough said, 'No, I don't really have that.'
'I tell people that we actually talk on the phone, and sometimes I go talk to you in the White House, and we disagree on things, but nothing deranged here, sir.'
Scarborough, 63, responded within minutes, reading the post aloud
Scarborough and Brzezinski took a trip to see Trump in late 2024 weeks before Trump's second inauguration.
'Unless you're deranged, if there's any derangement, it would have to be on your side of the relationship, because I'm not deranged,' the former Florida congressman continued.
'I just state the facts, and maybe that makes you deranged.'
In regard to being referred to as 'a laughingstock among those who know' him, Scarborough wailed: 'Yeah, that's... that really hurts, that hurts, it's, it hurts me that I'm being laughed at.
'“His show is being cut because his ratings are terrible,”' he continued. 'Not exactly what I think we saw earlier, but anyway,' referring to Nielsen ratings released the prior day.
'"And Mike and Willie, who wants to be his father."'
Only Geist, 51, realized what Trump had meant.
'Wait, what?' Brzezinski asked.
Cohost Jonathan Lemire (bottom right) wondered whether the hosts were 'seeing defensiveness' from the president. Willie Geist (top right) was panned in the post as well
'Willie, do you want to be my father?' added Scarborough.
Geist eventually interjected: 'You misinterpreted. That was a lovely compliment to my father, Bill Geist. I appreciate that.'
Following some more crosstalk, cohost Jonathan Lemire said: 'I think we're seeing defensiveness there. And of course, we know that the Epstein matter is a very sensitive subject at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
'So he is watching and felt like he needed to chime in.'
'Well, thank you for chiming in, Mr. President,' said Scarborough, with a wave. 'As always, we appreciate you watching the show, and as always, pray for your health, as I tell you, and pray for your well-being.'
Scarborough dismissed speculation that Trump was suffering from dementia just a few weeks ago, while reacting to a piece Lemire penned for The Atlantic about Trump's age and demeanor on May 18.
On May 11, the Morning Joe team tore into Trump over claims he fell asleep during an Oval Office event about reproductive health.
In April, Scarborough predicted a post-apocalyptic future for his old party because of the war in Iran. He also predicted a pronounced drop-off in Republican voters come 2028, citing word from frustrated 'friends.'
The cable news power couple recently signed a contract extension good until the end of 2029
Scarborough left the party to become an independent following Trump's first election win.
Months before, Scarborough penned an op-ed for the Washington Post that demanded Republicans 'dump Donald Trump' as their presidential candidate.
Trump went on to attack the host on X. The two have been trading barbs ever since.
Both he and Brzezinski signed a contract extension good until the end of 2029 in March.
At the time, the former Florida Republican thanked MS NOW President Rebecca Kutler and Versant CEO Mark Lazarus 'for the vote of confidence.'
The show is averaging 747,000 total viewers, according to Nielsen - up 18 percent from last year.
The network was renamed from MSNBC in November, as part of corporate restructuring by former parent company Comcast. It was cast off to a separate company, Versant, along with other cable channels.
