Chuck Todd: Only Inviting Russia Media ‘Would be a Rejected Plot Line in House of Cards’

The day after President Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, the president met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The whole thing created awkward optics due to the little issue of Trump having just canned the guy who was conducting an investigation into potential collusion between Russia and Trump associates.

Making the situation even more surreal were reports that only one media outlet allowed into the meeting to take photos — the Russian news agency TASS. This news caused much consternation on the MSNBC set this afternoon, with Meet the Press host Chuck Todd observing that the situation was stranger than fiction.

“I’m sorry, that would be a rejected plot line in House of Cards or The Americans,” Todd exclaimed. “You can’t make that up. I mean, that’s just stunning.”

Andrea Mitchell would also weigh in, stating that TASS is more than just a news outlet — it’s a government agency.

“So the Russians had it all out globally while the White House press corps was kept out,” she stated. “It’s unprecedented.”

The closed meeting with Russian officials and only allowing TASS to take photos wasn’t the only bit of bad optics on this day. Besides trying to dismiss this firing as being about Russia, Trump is also hearing criticism that the move is “Nixonian.” Despite that, Trump could be seen meeting with former Nixon Secretary of State Henry Kissinger today.

Watch the clip above, via MSNBC.

[image via screengrab]

—

Follow Justin Baragona on Twitter: @justinbaragona

Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com