Michael Steele’s outrageous claim that President Trump was “probably not happy” about a foiled terror plot went unchecked on MSNBC.
In fact, host Nicolle Wallace applauded the former chairman of the Republican National Committee for his “brave” comments.
During a panel discussion on MSNBC’s “Deadline: White House” on Friday, Steele blasted the president for his reaction to the arrest of a U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant earlier in the week.
“I was going to say, I guess I kind of, at this point, have reached — my glass is no longer half-full, it’s just overflowing with all of the crazy that comes out of Trump,” the former lieutenant governor of Maryland said. “On this one, why would we be surprised that a self-proclaimed nationalist would not speak out against a self-proclaimed white nationalist?”
Trump had remarked that it was “a very sad thing” that Lt. Christopher Paul Hasson was accused of being a “domestic terrorist.” The 49-year-old was arrested after federal authorities found a stockpile of guns and ammunition in his Maryland home which he allegedly intended to use in a terrorist attack targeting politicians and journalists.
Hasson, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and Army National Guard before joining the Coast Guard in 2016, was a self-proclaimed white nationalist seeking to “establish a white homeland” using violence against a targeted list of political “traitors,” according to court records.
Media people on his target list: @JoeNBC, @chrislhayes, @donlemon, @VanJones68, @ChrisCuomo, @AriMelber
Politicians include: @AOC, @ewarren, @IlhanMN, @KamalaHarris, @SenGillibrand, @SenSchumer, @BetoORourke, @CoryBooker, @SpeakerPelosi, @timkaine, @SenBlumenthal https://t.co/q4QjhJedpw
— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) February 20, 2019
“I think it’s a very sad thing when a thing like that happens,” Trump responded Friday when asked about the arrest while dismissing claims that his rhetoric could be to blame.
Meanwhile, Steele ranted unchecked on MSNBC with his own rhetoric, actually claiming the president was “probably” unhappy with Hasson’s arrest.
“Why are we acting like this is a space Donald Trump is going to go in on behalf of the American ideal? No, he’s not. These are his people, all right. And he’s not going to thank law enforcement because he’s probably not happy about what law enforcement did,” he declared.
“Is that where we are?” Wallace asked, missing the hypocrisy of slamming Trump for his words while slandering him with false accusations.
“That’s where we are. I call the space where we are what we are. I’m not going to try to dress it up and be all pie in the sky and hopeful that oh, the next incident, Donald Trump will actually get it right, that he will have matured in his presidency enough to act like a president,” Steele continued.
“That’s a brave thing to say,” Wallace interjected, moving ahead with the ridiculous premise.
“Let me just draw you out on that,” she said. “If he carried out his attacks, what do you think the President would have done?”
“That’s the next test in all of this. That’s a very good question and it’s absolutely the next test,” Steele exclaimed, pressing his brazen narrative as he said “we would hope” there would be an “appropriate level of outrage.”
“But here we sit and we have the little question mark over — little thought bubble as a question mark, I don’t know what he would do,” he pronounced. “And that’s the sad spot about all of this. And you have communities of color, you have communities across this country that are concerned about whether or not this President is interested in protecting their interests.”
The stunning remarks seemed to stun Wallace who, though she admitted her shock, offered no rebuttal.
“Let me just — I can’t let this go, because you’re blowing my mind,” she exclaimed before positing another outrageous question.
“You think if Dylann Roof committed that crime now, is that what you’re saying?” she asked, referring to the white supremacist who was convicted of killing nine African-American parishioners in a Charleston, S.C. church in 2015.
“No amazing grace?” she added as Steele confirmed his view.
“Show me otherwise. Prove it to me otherwise. Because I can only go on what you say, what you do and what you don’t do, right?” he said.
The former Republican Party politician was scorched for his remarks on social media.
Michael Steele is a hack. One of the worst chairman RNC has ever had and that’s saying something https://t.co/82I0xvbAMh
— Jack Posobiec ?? (@JackPosobiec) February 23, 2019
It’s weird to think I used to have respect for @MichaelSteele. https://t.co/QSvF91Kzct
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) February 23, 2019
That accusation is asinine. How anyone can think the President was unhappy about the the FBI stopping this guy is flat out absurd. Stop fueling the hatred @MichaelSteele
— David McClue (@DavidMcclue) February 23, 2019
What do you say about a former GOP chair who says the millions in his own party who voted for a guy he opposes are in fact wannabe mass murderers? Guess it’s just the Derangement talking. And this is the “decent” GOP?
— Daniel Lee (@RealDanLee) February 22, 2019
So did Michael Steele tell Bernie Sanders that it was his people? The guy who shot up a ball field with Republican politicians
— Matthew Holley (@Nrthms1) February 23, 2019
The fact that Nicolle did not challenge him shows how disgusting low this show has become. Pure hype for the almighty dollar.
— Bill Bonn⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@AlongtheBillabo) February 23, 2019
Dangerous and disgusting rhetoric
— t (@Mericagurl) February 23, 2019
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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