MSNBC’s Morning Joe panel found themselves reeling in disbelief as they confronted the full scope of Donald Trump’s 2024 victory over Kamala Harris. For a panel that had spent years writing Trump off as politically toxic and unelectable, Tuesday’s results signaled nothing short of a seismic shift.
Host Joe Scarborough described it as “the biggest red wave I’ve seen since Ronald Reagan’s 49-state victory in 1984.” The Democratic Party, he observed, had been “just wiped out,” a message that’s bound to resonate uncomfortably in liberal circles that had once confidently dismissed Trump’s chances.
Co-host Jonathan Lemire appeared equally at a loss, noting Trump’s extraordinary resilience. “He was impeached twice, he botched the pandemic, he’s faced four criminal cases, and he won anyway,” Lemire remarked, almost in disbelief.
Scarborough: “This is the biggest red wave I’ve seen since Ronald Reagan’s 49-state victory in 1984” pic.twitter.com/5u5bCRUtJM
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) November 6, 2024
The idea of Trump returning to the Oval Office—this time with fewer internal “guardrails” and allies abroad who view him favorably—was, to him, a deeply troubling scenario. And with a Supreme Court that has increasingly deferred to executive authority, Trump’s second term, Lemire implied, could unfold with a historically high level of presidential power.
Former Senator Claire McCaskill offered perhaps the most candid assessment, admitting that Trump “knows our country better than we do.” McCaskill’s insight went to the heart of Trump’s political genius: understanding and channeling the anger and fear that, in her view, resonate more powerfully than idealistic appeals to “better angels.”
According to McCaskill, Trump tapped into concerns that elite commentators often dismiss as mere reactionary impulses—fear of economic instability, cultural dislocation, and national security concerns. Democrats, meanwhile, had banked on a more progressive message that clearly failed to reach Middle America.
Unbelievable segment this morning with Claire McCaskill on MSNBC’s Morning Joe
“Well first we have to acknowledge that Donald Trump knows our country better than we do”
For just a moment, it seems as though there may be hope for an awakening within the Democratic Party, only… pic.twitter.com/UXC9ft5aIk
— Kylie Jane Kremer (@KylieJaneKremer) November 6, 2024
McCaskill also pointed to a key driver of Trump’s success that the media has often downplayed: the public’s perception of him as a victim. “America believed—the majority of Americans believed—that he was a victim in those prosecutions, not a perpetrator,” she noted, highlighting a dynamic that has played to Trump’s advantage.
His legal battles, far from damaging his credibility, seem to have solidified a perception that he’s fighting against a system that doesn’t represent everyday Americans. To Trump’s base—and even beyond—each indictment appeared more like an attack on their beliefs than on the man himself.
