MSNBC’s Alex Witt on Trump in Houston: ‘We’re Seeing a Remarkably Different President’

MSNBC’s Alex Witt anchored coverage of President Trump‘s visit to a Houston shelter this afternoon, and she observed that today is showing people a “softer side” of the Commander-in-Chief.

As Trump greeted and hugged people inside NRG Stadium, Witt said, “He’s being far more tactile than he was in his first visit, and just getting right there up with folks who have been displaced by Harvey. Again, this is a recovery center. And, you know, so there he is perhaps now showing a little bit more to his critics that he’s got an empathetic side.”

As they continued to see the footage of Trump meeting with victims, Witt continued:

“I’ve got to tell you, we’re seeing a remarkably different President than we have seen in the past. I mean, we have seen him with his grandchildren, and he walks hand in hand with them, deplaning Air Force One, or seeing them perhaps on the balcony at the White House, and we know that he is a doting grandfather in that regard.”

“This is a much different President,” she added minutes later, “than the one we saw earlier this week in Houston, or the one that––by reputation––we usually see.”

As she welcomed Martin O’Malley onto the program later, Witt again observed, “He is definitely showing a much softer side to his persona after being criticized earlier this week for not reaching out to individuals and showing enough empathy.”

She asked O’Malley if he’s willing to give Trump some credit for how he’s been acting today. O’Malley said, “I believe that all human beings are capable of redemption and change, and let’s hope that on take two here, the President’s able to show that sort of Presidential leadership.”

CNBC’s John Harwood agreed that this is “a positive day for the President.”

“I think this is a strong moment for the President,” he said, “a moment where he’s very fortunate to have retired Marine General Kelly as his chief of staff, and Brock Long as his FEMA administrator seems to be doing a very good job as well.”

You can watch the clips above, via MSNBC.

[image via screengrab]

— —

Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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