On a recent episode of MSNBC’s *Morning Joe*, host Joe Scarborough found himself in a rather uncomfortable position when journalist Mark Halperin challenged him regarding his enthusiastic endorsement of President Joe Biden right before the ill-fated debate last spring. Scarborough had claimed, quite boldly, that this incarnation of Biden was the “best and sharpest” version yet.
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough brags about Joe Biden:
“F*ck you if you can’t handle the truth. This version of Biden, intellectually, analytically, is the best Biden ever.”
Does anyone actually believe that? pic.twitter.com/QKyZY8SDtJ
— Proud Elephant (@ProudElephantUS) March 6, 2024
While this incident may not be fresh off the press, it serves as a crucial reminder to hold media figures accountable for their proclamations. Scarborough’s response to Halperin’s query was anything but smooth; he stumbled over his words and resorted to the classic “but Trump” defense, invoking the former president’s name more often than Biden’s in a bid to deflect scrutiny.
Here’s a transcript of their exchange, courtesy of Mediaite:
HALPERIN: I’ve told you for months, ‘Joe, best Biden ever has become a catchphrase for those on the right, implying that MSNBC suffers from Trump derangement syndrome. How can you claim a man who’s clearly lost some mental acuity is at his best?’ You’ve seen him on good days, but how do you reconcile that?
SCARBOROUGH: On good days — plural.
HALPERIN: But in hindsight, was it misleading to assert he’s the best Biden ever without noting the days when he isn’t?
SCARBOROUGH: I only saw him on good days personally.
HALPERIN: But you did see him in public addressing a deceased congresswoman and during events in South Carolina.
SCARBOROUGH: The deceased congresswoman, right.
HALPERIN: Exactly. There are numerous instances where he hasn’t been at his best. Shortly thereafter-
SCARBOROUGH: He stumbled, yes. But so did Donald Trump and many others. Just like with Trump, I’ve had deep conversations with him, and I left with a better understanding of his mental state. I won’t dwell on a viral clip over hours of in-person experiences.
Here’s the video of the exchange:
BRUTAL: Joe Scarborough stumbles through trying to explain away how he covered up for Joe Biden’s mental decline. pic.twitter.com/LjWfycMrEY
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 28, 2025
Scarborough’s behavior in this exchange raises eyebrows about his journalistic integrity. He and his co-host Mika Brzezinski have been accused of consistently shielding Biden while disparaging Trump, highlighting an apparent double standard in their coverage.
