Donald Trump on Friday tweeted in response to Scarborough and Brzenski's claim that he tried to blackmail them with a National Enquirer story.
Watched low rated @Morning_Joe for first time in long time. FAKE NEWS. He called me to stop a National Enquirer article. I said no! Bad show
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 30, 2017
In a column published in the Washington Post on Friday, Scarborough and Brzenski claimed earlier this year, top White House staff members called them to warn them that the National Enquirer was planning to publish a negative article "unless we begged the president to have the story spiked.”
"Morning Joe" hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski said Friday that President Donald Trump lied about their December encounter in a tweet and that he is "not well."
.@morningmika: "It’s been fascinating and frightening and really sad for our country" #morningjoe pic.twitter.com/Ch9fekp905
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) June 30, 2017
The two MSNBC personalities postponed a vacation in order to respond to Trump's tweet, which drew wide criticism a day earlier because he called Brzezinski "crazy" and said she was "bleeding badly from a face-lift" when he saw them at his Florida estate.
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
Trump added that he turned down the hosts' alleged attempts to join him at Mar-a-Lago in December.
...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
A number of Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, voiced their concerns and disapproval of the president following his controversial tweets.
"We were heartened to hear a number of Republican lawmakers call out Mr. Trump for his offensive words and can only hope that the women who are closest to him will follow their examples."
They said Trump was lying about Brzezinski having a face-lift, although "she did have a little skin under her chin tweaked," according to a co-byline story in the Washington Post.
Kellyanne Conway speaking to several news outlets on Friday echoed Sarah Huckabee Sanders' comments in supporting Trump's "ability to fight back."
"I didn't say I endorse [Pres. Trump's] attacks... I endorse his ability to fight back..." - @KellyannePolls to @GStephanopoulos on tweets pic.twitter.com/bhvQrUvdjO
— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 30, 2017
