“Morning Joe” co-host Mika Brzezinski used a churlish term Wednesday to insult Secretary of State Michael Pompeo because of his comments about Saudi Arabia.
During an interview with Sen. Richard Durbin, the show’s panel began harshly criticizing the Trump administration for standing with the Saudi regime and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Addressing her co-host and husband Joe Scarborough, Ms. Brzezinski zeroed in on Mr. Pompeo and the fact that he refused to comment about the crown prince when asked on Fox News.
“Are the pathetic deflections we just heard when he appeared on ’Fox and Friends’ — is that a patriot speaking?” she said. “Or a wannabe dictator’s butt boy?”
The show attempted to censor her comment, the audio cut out just after she issued the phrase.
The show kept rolling without pause, and Mr. Scarborough followed up by agreeing that Mr. Pompeo has “debased himself.”
Journalist Gregory “G.E.” Anderson called out Ms. Brzezinski on Twitter after he watched the segment.
.@morningmika just asked if Mike Pompeo is a “wannabe dictator’s butt boy,” as homophobic a term as I’ve heard on national morning television. @MSNBC tried and failed to censor it, and did not transcribe her remark in the closed captioning. #journalism pic.twitter.com/3zK7H8evjh
— G.E. Anderson (@g_e_anderson) December 12, 2018
I was with you, @morningmika, right up to the “butt boy” comment. Try “toadie” or “lackey” or “stool pigeon” or “ass kisser,” or “traitor,” but maybe don’t equate homosexuality with Mike Pompeo carrying water for the murderous regime in Saudi Arabia.
— G.E. Anderson (@g_e_anderson) December 12, 2018
Ms. Brzezinski shared Mr. Anderson’s tweet and apologized for her comments.
Totally agree with you -SUPER BAD choice of words .. I should have said “water boy”… like for football teams or something like that.. apologize to @SenatorDurbin too! SO SORRY! https://t.co/zIqsGdK3Tk
— Mika Brzezinski (@morningmika) December 12, 2018
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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