Joe Scarborough disapproved of the latest display of anti-media rhetoric by Trump supporters in Tampa, Florida last night, saying on Wednesday that the president’s habit of stirring the sentiment was reminiscent of “autocrats.”
“Let’s just say it. This is what autocrats do,” said the “Morning Joe” co-host. “This is what autocrats do because they hate anybody that’s fact-based and holds them to power. People that don’t want their power checked do exactly what Donald Trump does to the free press.”
Andrea Mitchell, who was on set, said that she had never seen any comparable press hostility from all the other presidents that she’s covered.
“I’ve covered seven American presidents in all these years and none of them have liked the press,” she said. “It’s always been adversarial. There’s been tensions, but they welcomed it and tolerated it, even during the worst of times even when we went through impeachment.”
“Lord knows Bill Clinton did not love the press,” she added.
On Tuesday, Trump supporters were out in force for the president’s rally in Tampa and directed their wrath at CNN’s Jim Acosta. The reporter, who has become a target for Trump, tweeted about the experience and warned that someone was going to get hurt if this behavior continued.
“Just a sample of the sad scene we faced at the Trump rally in Tampa,” said Acosta after tweeting a video of hecklers. “I’m very worried that the hostility whipped up by Trump and some in conservative media will result in somebody getting hurt. We should not treat our fellow Americans this way. The press is not the enemy.”
Just a sample of the sad scene we faced at the Trump rally in Tampa. I’m very worried that the hostility whipped up by Trump and some in conservative media will result in somebody getting hurt. We should not treat our fellow Americans this way. The press is not the enemy. pic.twitter.com/IhSRw5Ui3R
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 1, 2018