Not Really Hitler: Democrats Renege on “Threat to Democracy”

November 19, 2024 Not Really Hitler: Democrats Renege on “Threat to Democracy”  image

Key Takeaways

  • Both Republicans and Democrats are irritated with Morning Joe hosts for meeting with Trump, but for different reasons.
  • Democrats say Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski are betraying their fight against Trump’s authoritarianism by speaking with him.
  • Republicans say the two are revealing their partisan insincerity after calling Trump “Hitler” and a “threat to democracy” for years.  

Our Methodology

Demographics

All Voters

Sample Size

7,700

Geographical Breakdown

National

Time Period

1 Day

MIG Reports leverages EyesOver technology, employing Advanced AI for precise analysis. This ensures unparalleled precision, setting a new standard. Find out more about the unique data pull for this article. 

Trump's victory is causing a cultural and rhetorical shift, even among Democrats who have long called him a “threat to democracy” and likened him to Hitler. The most recent example of this hypocrisy went viral after MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski met with Trump at Mar-a Lago. After frequently comparing Trump to Adolf Hitler, the hosts of Morning Joe are generating controversy with their newfound willingness to dialogue.

A Shift in Rhetoric or Strategic Necessity?

Scarborough and Brzezinski were among the most vocal critics of Trump during his presidency and since. Their rhetoric was often viewed by conservatives as hyperbolic, divisive, and disingenuous. Now they’re drawing accusations of hypocrisy as people on both sides accuse them of either caving to “authoritarianism” or revealing their insincerity.

Some frame the Mar-a-Lago meeting as a strategic necessity. They say the media is being forced to capitulate to Trump after his decisive win. However, many MSNBC viewers perceive Scarborough and Brzezinski’s willingness to speak with Trump as a betrayal.

Democratic Reactions

MIG Reports data shows:

  • 75% of Democrats are outraged, calling Scarborough and Brzezinski’s meeting a betrayal of moral consistency. Common sentiments include accusations of hypocrisy and concerns about normalizing Trump’s leadership.
  • 20% defend the meeting, citing the importance of dialogue in a polarized nation.
  • 5% are indifferent, viewing the issue as secondary to more pressing concerns.

Many progressive voices within the Democratic base argue this move undermines important efforts to hold Trump accountable. They say the meeting diminishes the seriousness of Trump’s threat to the country.

Democrats fear:

  • Trump's return to power will have negative implications for American democracy.
  • Authoritarianism from a Trump administration that dismantles democratic institutions and practices.
  • Impending decline in American as in historical totalitarian regimes.
  • The erosion of civil rights, freedom of speech, and the integrity of government institutions.

Republican Reactions

Republicans see the media and Democrats as hypocritical:

  • 68% of Republicans criticize Morning Joe for previous comparisons of Trump to Hitler, saying the rhetoric is overheated and hyperbolic.
  • 25% say the meeting is an acknowledgment of Trump’s legitimacy and a step toward bipartisanship.
  • 7% are skepticism about the media’s motives, viewing their actions as opportunistic rather than principled.

For Republicans, this meeting symbolizes the failure of Democrats and media figures to maintain consistent or principled stances. Many see it as vindication of Trump, saying Democrats are admitting they never believed their own claims about Trump as an authoritarian or a dictator.

Republicans fear:

  • Democratic leadership and media rhetoric has led to widespread political dissatisfaction and a divisive atmosphere.
  • There may be no true accountability or reform either in government or for negligent or malicious media practices.
  • Democratic voters will continue to double down on unrealistic fears about Trump and Republicans without allowing truth to impact their hatred.

Independent Reactions

Independents and moderates are disillusioned:

  • They largely express cynicism, criticizing both sides for partisan rhetoric over solutions.
  • Many say they’re fatigued with political theater, calling for policy actions rather than media and rhetorical fights.

Those in the middle represent a growing public distrust of both political and media institutions. They are wary of hyperbole on either side and want to focus on the economy, national security, and healthcare.

Plummeting Media Credibility

Scarborough and Brzezinski’s meeting with Trump is indicative of new leaves being turned in the media. As public trust in legacy media continues to erode, media figures are being forced to change their tactics.

The Democratic base says this shift is a failure to uphold the moral imperative. For Republicans, it reinforces perceptions that partisan media narratives are only as strong as the viewership and funding that props them up. They say with dramatically falling ratings, media outlets are facing the reality that they’re out of step with American voters.

  • 65% of all voters are concerned about the lack of trust in media as a cause of divisiveness.
  • Democrats fear the normalization of Trump’s leadership, while Republicans view it as evidence of Democratic hypocrisy.

Stay Informed

More Like This

  • 10

    Dec

    Blue Fractures: How Trump Is Reshaping Democratic Discourse  image
  • 10

    Dec

    Health Insurance CEO’s Assassination a Sign of the Times  image
  • 09

    Dec

    Rising Rent: Gentrified Dreams, Affordable Nightmares  image