During Thursday’s episode of Morning Joe, co-hosts Willie Geist and Joe Scarborough aired a clip from MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber highlighting Rep. Matt Gaetz’s history of insulting key Republican senators, many of whom now play a crucial role in his confirmation.
Geist opened the segment, noting Gaetz’s troubled relationships on Capitol Hill. “Matt Gaetz is not popular among his colleagues on Capitol Hill. He made a habit of insulting lawmakers, his colleagues, including those who will vote on his nomination.”
The clip featured Gaetz mocking several Republican senators, including Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), John Thune (R-SD), John Cornyn (R-TX), John Barrasso (R-WY), and Thom Tillis (R-NC). Gaetz referred to them as “fools” and accused them of being “corrupt.”
As the video played, Joe Scarborough laughed and remarked, “I counted eight.” Geist, holding up both hands to emphasize the point, added, “We had to go to a second hand.” Scarborough quickly pointed out, “And those are recent insults!”
The segment highlighted the irony of Gaetz now needing the support of these very senators to advance his political ambitions, despite having openly derided them in the past.
Watch the segment below from MSNBC:
