MSNBC’s Michael Steele Corrects Symone Sanders-Townsend with Condescending Remark – and He’s Wrong

MSNBC’s Michael Steele attempted to correct his network colleague Symone Sanders-Townsend on Sunday, but with factually incorrect information on MSNBC’s The Weekend while complaining about the date of presidential inaugurations.

Steele complained of frigid temperatures in Washington ahead of the Donald Trump inauguration ceremony, and bemoaned the event was not held in March as it had been in the past.

When Sanders-Townsend correctly noted the US Constitution declares that inaugurations must be held on the 20th of January every four years after a presidential election, Steele contradicted her, but was wrong.

During a discussion about the weather for inaugural weekend, Steele complained, “Well, there’s still the value of moving the inauguration back to March. I – you know, I don’t know why they ever moved to January in the first place, but here we are.”

Sanders-Townsend cut in and explained, “The Constitution.”

Steele replied, “What was that?”

Sanders-Townsend repeated herself when she said, “The Constitution.”

Steele then commented,  “No, the inauguration was held in March right up through Roosevelt. And then they changed it. It ain’t in the Constitution. Let’s – come on.”

Sanders-Townsend and MSNBC anchor Alicia Menendez both shared awkward expressions as Steele laughed and teased another segment while the network went to a commercial break. The former RNC chair then said, “Okay, that’s what we’re going to do,” just before an ad played.

Sanders-Townsend was correct. Steele was not wrong in noting that presidents were sworn in during the month of March before 1933, but he apparently missed the text in the 20th Amendment that clearly states inaugurations must be held at high noon on Jan. 20. The Architect of the Capitol states:

The 20th Amendment to the Constitution specifies that the term of each elected President of the United States begins at noon on January 20 of the year following the election.

The Library of Congress adds further context to the disagreement between Steel and Sanders:

Until the ratification of the Twentieth Amendment in 1933, the official day for presidential inaugurations was March 4. When the fourth fell on a Sunday, as it did in 1821, 1849, 1877, and 1917, the ceremonies were held on March 5.

Watch the clip above via MSNBC.