Over the last several days, Donald Trump has slightly reduced his early-morning use of Twitter because, according to the Associated Press, he’s no longer allowing himself to watch MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
The AP reports that Trump’s Twitter use is directly connected to the amount of cable news he consumes, which is a lot. The president has been turning off the TV in the morning in order to avoid the temptation of going on early-morning Twitter tirades – a usual occurrence early in his presidency.
More from the AP:
One aide said the reduction in Trump’s early morning tweets was a result of his ending his habit of watching “Morning Joe,” the MSNBC show hosted by Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, longtime friends of the president who have been critical of some of his early moves.
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
Brzezinski said Trump made similar claims of avoiding the TV during the campaign. “Then I would see him and Joe talking and he would say ‘Joe, you know I really watch every day,'” she said.
While the Associated Press notes that Trump is trying to “refocus his presidency” ahead of Tuesday’s big address to Congress, the president’s decision to turn off the MSNBC morning show is likely due to the fact that Republican host Joe Scarborough and co-host Mika Brzezinski have stopped being the Trump cheerleaders they were early in the 2016 GOP primary.
In recent weeks, Scarborough has said that Trump is a “FAKE PRESIDENT” for his attacks on the press, and Brzezinski announced that Trump spinmaster Kellyanne Conway would no longer be allowed on ‘Morning Joe’ because of how frequently she lies.
Scarborough was particularly tough on Trump adviser Stephen Miller, who recently said the president’s authority “will not be questioned.” The Republican host called Miller’s comments “embarrassing” and told him to “go back and read the constitution.”
We all may wish Trump’s new habit of turning off cable news and tweeting less is a sign that he is “growing up” and trying to focus on being president, but this is more likely just the opposite.
Trump is so thin-skinned and insecure that he can’t handle being criticized – especially on cable news – without lashing out on social media.
Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
