‘Donald Trump Knows Our Country Better Than We Do’: Morning Joe Grapples With Trump Victory in Funereal Show Open

A subdued Morning Joe panel kicked off Wednesday’s show by grappling with the reality of Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 Election.

Joe Scarborough kicked off the analysis by marveling at the scope of the Republican victory on Tuesday night.

“I’ve got to say, this is the biggest red wave I’ve seen since Ronald Reagan’s 49 state victory in 1984,” Scarborough said. “It seems every Republican across the country improved.”

The Morning Joe host added that he found the outcome “stunning.”

“America, first of all, is far more to the Right than any time in our lifetimes,” Scarborough said. “Even going back to the Reagan years. And Donald Trump won in dominating fashion. But he did that along with other Republican candidates in the Senate races and the House races. They’re likely to dominate all branches of government for the next several years.”

He added, “The scope and scale of this victory is sweeping…This is a Democratic Party that has been just wiped out this morning.”

Jonathan Lemire said of Trump, “He was impeached twice. He botched the handling of the pandemic. He faced four criminal cases. He inspired January 6th. And he won anyway. And now he will return to office with few guardrails internally. Encouragement from Moscow and other foreign adversaries. And a Supreme Court that has said that his power is largely unchecked.”

Moments later, Claire McCaskill delivered a glum commentary in which she conceded that she and her cohorts are not as attuned to the mood of their fellow Americans as Trump.

“I think we have to acknowledge that Donald Trump knows our country better than we do,” she said. “I think he figured out that anger — and frankly, fear — were way more powerful than appealing to people’s better angels. That anger and fear were going to work in this election. Whether you’re afraid of immigrants or afraid of people who are trans, he figured that out. And I think we all thought everyone’s better angels would prevail. Turns out, the better angels went on vacation when Donald Trump came down the escalator. And they haven’t returned.”

Watch above, via MSNBC.