The president on Thursday launched a Twitter rant against Joe Scarborough, left, and Mika Brzezinski, co-hosts of MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' show. (Paul Zimmerman/WireImage)
President Donald Trump took a vicious swipe at MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski on Thursday morning, claiming the pair pushed to join him at his Florida club around the new year and that Brzezinski was "bleeding badly" from plastic surgery at the time.
"I heard poorly rated @Morning_Joe speaks badly of me (don't watch anymore)," Trump said in a pair of tweets. "Then how come low I.Q. Crazy Mika, along with Psycho Joe, came to Mar-a-Lago 3 nights in a row around New Year's Eve, and insisted on joining me."
"She was bleeding badly from a face-lift," he said. "I said no!"
I heard poorly rated @Morning_Joe speaks badly of me (don't watch anymore). Then how come low I.Q. Crazy Mika, along with Psycho Joe, came..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2017
...to Mar-a-Lago 3 nights in a row around New Year's Eve, and insisted on joining me. She was bleeding badly from a face-lift. I said no!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2017
The two were seen at Trump's South Florida club on New Year's Eve, though Scarborough pushed back vehemently against the suggestion that the pair had "partied" there.
The president's tweets Thursday followed an earlier social media attack from the White House director of social media, Dan Scavino.
"#DumbAsARockMika and lover #JealousJoe are lost, confused & saddened since @POTUS @realDonaldTrump stopped returning their calls! Unhinged."
It was not immediately clear what prompted Trump's missives. On Thursday, however, Scarborough called Trump's recent attacks on the media "Stalinist."
And on Wednesday, a day after White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders chastised the media from the briefing room podium, Scarborough called Trump "the greatest liar that's ever sat in the White House."
"I mean, to compare [former President Richard] Nixon to this guy is absolutely ridiculous," he said. "He lies every day. A lot of times he lies every minute. He forgets the lie that he told five minutes ago."
"And then he props up people like Sarah Huckabee Sanders to back up his lies, and she does it with a straight face," Brzezinski added. "It's incredibly disturbing."
Scarborough, a former Republican congressman, and Brzezinski at one time had warmer relations with Trump, including in the early days of his presidential campaign. Trump in the past would often call into the show and was said to be a regular watcher of the MSNBC program.
But when Scarborough began sharpening his criticisms, Trump responded in kind, slamming "Morning Joe" ratings.
He also frequently took aim at Brzezinski – saying he'd heard she'd gone "wild with hate," calling her "off the wall, a neurotic and not very bright mess," and stating he "heard that crazy and very dumb @morningmika had a mental breakdown while talking about me."
Still, the president-elect seemed to be on relatively friendly ground with the "Morning Joe" stars leading up to his inauguration. After the co-hosts announced they had gotten engaged, they told Vanity Fair that Trump had floated the possibility that he could officiate their wedding – an apparent offer they have no plans to take him up on.
In response to Thursday's tweets, Scarborough retweeted CNN host Jake Tapper, who noted that first lady Melania Trump has previously said she wanted to spearhead an initiative to combat online bullying.
This reminds me: how is @FLOTUS's campaign against cyber-bullying going? https://t.co/X4xmyreGLH
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 29, 2017
Scarborough also retweeted Mark Kornblau, senior vice president for communications for the NBCUniversal News Group, who said, "[I] never imagined a day when I would think to myself, "it is beneath my dignity to respond to the President of the United States."
Brzezinski fired back with a photo seemingly meant to knock Trump's reported sensitivity about the size of his hands.
— Mika Brzezinski (@morningmika) June 29, 2017
"It's a sad day for America when the president spends his time bullying, lying and spewing petty personal attacks instead of doing his job," an MSNBC spokesperson added in a statement.
Gabrielle Levy covers politics for U.S. News & World Report. Follow her on Twitter (@gabbilevy) or email her at GLevy@usnews.com.
Recommended Articles
The 10 Worst Presidents
Dec. 31, 2014
Not all U.S. presidents are missed once they leave the White House.
Editorial Cartoons on Donald Trump
Jan. 31, 2017, at 5:16 p.m.
Photos: Obama Behind the Scenes
Sept. 10, 2014
A collection of moments subtle and grand of the 44th president of the United States.
Elon Musk: AI Is Society's 'Biggest Risk'
July 16, 2017
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO urged governors to regulate artificial intelligence before it's too late.
White House Fails to Sway Governors on Senate Health Care Bill
July 16, 2017
Administration officials traveled to Providence to gain support from key players like Gov. Brian Sandoval.
Canadian, Mexican Leaders Weigh in on NAFTA
July 14, 2017
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other foreign leaders reached out to U.S. governors ahead of slated talks.
National Academy of Medicine Explores Burnout
July 14, 2017
The academy hosted an open meeting to discuss ways to be kinder to medical practitioners and help them offer better care.
Documents Exchanged in Trump Jr.'s Meeting
July 14, 2017
The former Russian intelligence officer present at the meeting last year said that documents were provided to the Trump campaign team, contradicting earlier statements by the president's eldest son.
Progressives Unite Against Gun Violence
July 14, 2017
The organizers of the Women's March on Washington take on the NRA over gun control.
5 Things to Know About the Economy
July 14, 2017
U.S. News breaks down the week's most notable economic developments.
Judge Exempts Grandparents From Travel Ban
July 14, 2017
U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson ruled that grandparents should not be subject to the travel restrictions.
Jamie Dimon Bemoans 'Stupid S---'
July 14, 2017
The JPMorgan Chase CEO vented frustration with gridlock and regulation during a conference call Friday.
5 Stories You Missed This Week
July 14, 2017
All-girls robotics team from Afghanistan given OK to travel to U.S., and an Army vet has a dying request: text him.
A Veteran's Final Wish: A Call or Text
July 14, 2017
Make a veteran's day today.
Veterans, Service Members Push for Student Loan Security
July 14, 2017
They provided feedback to Department of Education officials about regulations that were designed to aid federal student loan borrowers.
Consumer Sentiment, Spending Sag in June
July 14, 2017
Data suggest Americans' optimism about the economy has eroded in recent months.
Former Soviet Spy Also Attended Donald Trump Jr. Meeting With Russian Lawyer
July 14, 2017
Rinat Akhmetshin is a lobbyist working to repeal the Magnitsky Act, but U.S. officials believe he is still involved with Russian intelligence.
Honda Recalls More Than a Million Cars
July 14, 2017
The company recalled the cars after multiple reports of engine fires.
U.S. May Sanction More Chinese Firms
July 14, 2017
The U.S. thinks China should be doing more to stem the threat from North Korea.
Capitol Hill Staffers Accused of Cyberstalking
July 13, 2017
Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett was allegedly victimized after trusting an aide to go to the Apple store.