In a candid moment on “Morning Joe” this Wednesday, MSNBC host Joe Scarborough admitted he got it wrong when he boldly declared that former President Joe Biden was the “best Biden ever” back in March 2024. The admission came during a lively discussion with CNN’s Jake Tapper and journalist Alex Thompson, as Scarborough revisited his earlier praise and grappled with the complexities of assessing Biden’s mental sharpness.
A Glimpse of Biden in Ireland
Scarborough’s initial enthusiasm stemmed from personal encounters with Biden, particularly during a 2023 trip to Ireland. There, he witnessed the former president bask in a warm reception. Scarborough also recalled an in-depth interview at the White House that stretched over two and a half to three hours.
“He’s doing well, he has a hero’s reception in Ireland,” Scarborough recounted. “I’ve told you about going in and talking to him for two and a half, three hours inside the White House, far beyond cogent. I mean really, really has a grasp of international politics in a way that only somebody who’s been doing it since he was 29 years old.”
These moments, coupled with personal phone calls where Biden passionately debated op-eds, convinced Scarborough that the president was at the top of his game. “I said that this was Biden at his best. That’s what I saw. That’s what other people saw, I was obviously wrong,” he admitted, reflecting on his miscalculation.
Facing the Critics
Scarborough’s 2024 remarks resurfaced during a Tuesday exchange with journalist Mark Halperin on Next Up with Mark Halperin. Halperin challenged the MSNBC host on his glowing assessment, suggesting he should have qualified it with, “except on the days when he’s not the best Biden ever.” The pair delved into the reality of Biden’s presidency, acknowledging the former president’s mix of strong and shaky moments.
Back in March, Scarborough had doubled down on his praise, stating on Morning Joe, “I’ve said it for years now, he’s cogent. But I undersold it when I said he was cogent, he’s far beyond cogent. In fact, I think he’s better than he’s ever been, intellectually, analytically, because he’s been around for 50 years.” He had even added a fiery, “Start your tape right now because I’m about to tell you the truth. And f-you if you can’t handle the truth. This version of Biden, intellectually, analytically, is the best Biden ever.”
A New Perspective on Biden’s Acuity
On Wednesday, Tapper and Thompson joined Morning Joe to discuss their new book, which examines Biden’s mental acuity. Tapper revealed that Biden had made a deliberate effort to convince Scarborough of his fitness for another term. Scarborough, however, stood firm on prioritizing his extended personal interactions over viral clips that painted a less flattering picture.
“And so again, am I going to look at a clip that’s gone viral and pay more attention to that than two and a half, three hours I had with a guy one-on-one going around the world? No, I’m just not going to,” Scarborough said. He acknowledged the missteps, noting, “Are some of the clips bad? Yeah, they certainly are bad.”
Governance Amid Imperfections
Despite the stumbles, Scarborough argued that Biden’s occasional missteps didn’t derail his ability to govern effectively. “Put into proper context, I’m just not going to freak out and melt down on one or two clips here and there,” he said. “And again he bumbled around, and he stumbled around, but he has for quite some time. That didn’t seem to me to get in the way of Joe Biden being able to analyze the most important issues.”
Scarborough’s reflections reveal a nuanced take on leadership, suggesting that while public perception can hinge on fleeting moments, he believes a deeper look at Biden’s tenure shows a leader that was allegedly still capable of navigating complex challenges.
The Fairview Gazette will keep our readers updated on any news about Biden’s previous administration and his health.
