If you spent any time on Twitter in the last two days, you might have thought that Donald Trump had taken over Joe Scarborough’s Twitter account: that’s how it appeared as the TV personality lodged personal attacks against New York Times journalists and repeatedly bristled at the idea that he was attending Trump’s new year’s eve party – even though he was photographed at the event.
To hear Scarborough explain it, both he and his “Morning Joe” cohost arrived at the beginning of the party to set up an interview with Trump. Scarborough argued that he was dressed in “street clothes” and did not stay at the party long.
Nevertheless, initial reports which said that the two “Morning Joe” personalities were “among the revelers” is accurate. No matter how long he stayed or what his intention was, Scarborough was photographed in an off-the-record meeting with Trump, looking cheery and chummy with the PEOTUS.
After lobbing off several personal attacks against journalists and complaining all over Twitter about how he is being persecuted, Scarborough appeared on CNN to blame his drama on the media’s hatred of Trump.
“I think it’s mainly against Donald Trump. Again, people knew that we went in — we couldn’t explain what we had said with Barack Obama, but when we met with him in the White House for an hour and a half, people knew we went in and met with Barack Obama for an hour and a half. They knew that we were friends with Valerie Jarrett,” Scarborough explained.
As ThinkProgress editor Judd Legum noted, the only way a person can stay on Trump’s good side is by giving unending praise to the man’s ego. And no one who lavishes praise on a President can cover him fairly.
5. But lets be clear: Trump is only friends with people who continuously shower him with praise
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) January 3, 2017
6. If you seek to be Trump’s friend, you cannot also cover him truthfully.
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) January 3, 2017
So no, Joe, your never-ending devotion to Trump is not like other reporters’ formal relationships with elected officials. If you want the public and the media to respect your journalistic integrity, you need to act as if you have some. If you meet with Trump during a highly-publicized and criticized event, maybe wear some press tags or bring a notebook. Look like you’re not among the party-goers. Or just meet with Trump anywhere else but at a lavish party. It’s not that hard.
