Chris Matthews, the former host of MSNBC known for his enthusiastic praise of President Obama—famously stating that the former president gave him a “thrill up his leg”—has long been a prominent figure in the liberal media landscape. His recent dialogue with fellow journalist Charlie Rose took an unexpected turn as Matthews expressed skepticism about the negative polling surrounding former President Trump, declaring, “I don’t buy that.”
This pronouncement is particularly striking, given Matthews’ previous tenure at MSNBC, where his commentary often aligned with the prevailing sentiments of the Democratic Party. The transformation of his tone is worth noting and even more fascinating to analyze.
Here’s a partial transcription of Matthews’ comments, as shared by Jason Cohen on Twitter/X:
“To be honest with you, the country is moving towards Trump. These polls, they come out and show him not doing well — I don’t buy that.”
“He is a stronger public figure than the Democratic people.”
“Obama still has tremendous charisma — but Trump has strength.”
“[Voters] want a president who is a strong figure. And he’s got it. It’s just there. And half the country buys it.”
Watch the clip:
NEW: Chris Matthews *DOESN’T BELIEVE* negative TRUMP polls
“To be honest with you, the country is moving towards Trump. These polls, they come out and show him not doing well — I don’t buy that.”
“He is a stronger public figure than the Democratic people.”
“Obama still… pic.twitter.com/twYsmDnD1P
— Jason Cohen (@JasonJournoDC) July 26, 2025
In another excerpt from the same conversation, which Cohen highlighted, Matthews elaborates:
“We have never had a president so instantly spontaneous that he knows this minute — at 4:00 this afternoon, he will say, ‘You know, that’s not really true anymore.’”
“He will know the mood of the country.”
“He’s very good at knowing your condition, your worries, your insecurities.”
“He’s really good at the moment. He’s out there watching television and keeping up. And ‘Is this the right thing to do? What are we going to do right now?’”
“Biden couldn’t do that in a million years … Mondale couldn’t do that.”
“They don’t have the connection to the electricity of what’s going on in the country culturally. And he knows what works.”
Watch:
NEW: Chris Matthews *PRAISES* Trump’s political skill
“We have never had a president so instantly spontaneous that he knows this minute — at 4:00 this afternoon, he will say, ‘You know, that’s not really true anymore.'”
“He will know the mood of the country.”
“He’s very… pic.twitter.com/2X4KU2193T
— Jason Cohen (@JasonJournoDC) July 26, 2025
One can’t help but wonder: Who is this new iteration of Chris Matthews, and what has happened to the commentator we once knew? His candid remarks about Trump are a departure from the conventional narrative often found in liberal discourse, suggesting a more complex and perhaps evolving perspective on the political landscape.
