Donald Trump’s recent attack on MSNBC, urging the federal government to “come down hard” on the network for alleged “illegal political activity,” has prompted a swift response from MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell.
As reported by Raw Story on Thursday, November 30, 2023, Trump accused MSNBC of engaging in a “24-hour hit job” against him and the Republican Party, singling out CEO Brian Roberts as a “slimeball” responsible for these attacks.
In a direct rebuttal, O’Donnell addressed Trump’s allegations at the start of his show on Wednesday. The MSNBC host took the opportunity to fact-check and correct what he described as falsehoods spread by the former president.
“Last night at 11:13 pm, 13 minutes after presumably watching this show, Donald Trump posted an attack not just on me this time, which he has done many times in the past, but on this entire network. Saying the government should come down hard on MSNBC,” O’Donnell said.
He continued, emphasizing Trump’s use of the phrase “come down hard” as synonymous with wanting to “completely destroy” and “violently attack,” alluding to the language Trump used before the January 6th Capitol riot, where he called on his supporters to “come down hard” on Congress.
O’Donnell called out Trump’s attack, stating, “And we know what Donald Trump means by come down hard. He means completely destroy, he means violently attack, attack the way he wanted Trump supporters to come down hard on Congress on January 6, 2021.”
The MSNBC host did not shy away from expressing his opinion on Trump’s credibility, suggesting that the former president might be “too stupid to know that was a lie.”
O’Donnell’s response underscores the ongoing tension between the media and Trump, who has consistently targeted outlets critical of him throughout his presidency and beyond.
This exchange is part of a broader trend where Trump, now using his Truth Social platform, continues to wield influence and engage in combative rhetoric against media organizations.
O’Donnell’s direct and forceful response reflects the challenges faced by journalists and media figures in navigating the ongoing dynamics of a polarized political landscape
