Nikki Haley Takes Aim At MSNBC Hosts Over Trump Meeting

India-West Staff Reporter

WASHINGTON, DC – Nikki Haley, former GOP presidential candidate, criticized MSNBC’s Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, suggesting their motives were driven by ratings rather than reconciliation.

“Let’s be clear, Joe and Mika didn’t suddenly see the light—they saw their ratings,” Haley posted on social media. “They realized they needed Trump for their survival.”

Haley herself has been in the doghouse with Trump and having a meeting with him seems not a possibility currently.

The MSNBC co-hosts announced on November 18 that they had met Trump in Florida to “reopen communications” with his team, marking their first face-to-face interaction with the former president in seven years. Trump, in a separate interview with Fox News, remarked that the meeting “should have happened long ago.”

The Hill reported that Brzezinski defended the meeting, describing Trump as “upbeat” and “interested in finding common ground on divisive issues.” She added, “For those questioning why we would meet during such fraught times, I ask, ‘Why wouldn’t we?’”

Scarborough, however, clarified their stance, saying, “Don’t be mistaken: we’re not here to defend or normalize Donald Trump. We’re here to report on him and provide insights into these deeply unsettling times.”

The meeting has sparked internal backlash at MSNBC, with some anchors and staff reportedly criticizing the hosts’ decision to engage with Trump. Haley’s remarks amplify the scrutiny, highlighting lingering tensions between Trump, the media, and those navigating the line between access and accountability.