MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, two of Donald Trump’s fiercest criticism in the mediarevealed Monday that they had a face-to-face meeting last week with the president-elect, saying it was an important opportunity for those who disagree to talk to each other.

“My father often spoke with world leaders with whom he and the United States deeply disagreed,” Brzezinski said, referring to diplomat Zbigniew Brzezinski. “It is a task shared by journalists and commentators alike.”

It was the first time in seven years they had seen Trump, Brzezinski said, and Scarborough added that they didn’t “agree on a lot of issues, and we told him that.” Scarborough said they discussed topics such as abortion, mass deportationand threats of reprisals against political opponents and the media.

The show added that Trump was cheerful during the meeting and seemed interested in finding common ground with Democrats on major issues. Trump won a decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris on November 5, sweeping the nation’s battleground states and also securing the first victory. popular vote victory for a Republican in 20 years.

“Morning Joe” hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough discuss their meeting with President-elect Donald Trump last week.

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Brzezinski took a moment to respond to viewers who might have been dismayed at agreeing to speak with Trump, whom they have repeatedly described as a threat to democracy.

“For those who ask why we would talk to the president-elect in such tense times, especially between us, I guess I would say: why not?” she said. “Five years of political warfare have deeply divided Washington and the country. We have been as clear as possible in expressing our deep concerns about President Trump’s actions and words in escalating the public debate.

But for nearly 80 million Americans, the election denial and public trials of Jan. 6 weren’t as important as the issues that pushed them to send Donald Trump back to the White House with their vote. Joe and I realize it’s time to do something different, and that starts with not only talking about Donald Trump, but talking with him.”

The defensive tone regarding speaking to Trump was notable given that “Morning Joe” was upset by NBC’s hiring of Trump ally Ronna McDaniel earlier this year as a paid analyst. The show and several other MSNBC luminaries spoke out publicly against McDaniel’s appearance on their airwaves, and his contract was terminated after less than a week.

President-elect Donald Trump speaks at an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Brzezinski said Trump’s term will be a “consequential” presidency, but time will tell if it will be “constructive.” She railed against threatening political opponents and also pointed out that indictments and trials tend to turn politicians into martyrs.

“Just ask Bill Clinton and Donald Trump,” she said.

Scarborough noted that Trump cannot run for another term, so this could be an opportunity for “both parties to get to work,” and said top Democrats have told him they are willing to work with Trump if the feeling was mutual.

“Make no mistake,” Scarborough said. “We are not here to defend or normalize Donald Trump. We are here to report on him and hopefully provide you with information that will help us all better understand these deeply troubling times.”

This might not please some of their fellow MSNBC or liberal hosts. media colleagues.

“Morning Joe” co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough were notable for their optimism about his political chances in 2015 and 2016 and frequently interviewed him on their show, but they became two of his most vocal critics. more vehement after he became president. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Americares)

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Brzezinski also revealed Monday that Scarborough called Trump the day after the assassination attempt on him in July, but other than that, they hadn’t even spoken since 2020. MSNBC kept “Morning Joe” no more airtime on Monday after the shooting, a controversial move at the time.

Scarborough and Brzezinski, who are married, stood out during the 2016 cycle for their optimism about Trump’s political chances early in the Republican primary, and they were criticized for frequently hosting and interviewing the future president. But they became two of his staunchest critics once he took office, and Trump has at times launched intense personal attacks against both men.

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Scarborough, a former U.S. congressman from Florida, left the Republican Party in 2017 over his disagreements with Trump.