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Congressional Republicans Criticize Trump’s Comments About TV Anchor

President tweeted he turned down meeting as Mika Brzezinski was ‘bleeding badly from a face-lift’

Kansas Rep. Lynn Jenkins said President Donald Trump’s remarks about MSNBC host Mike Brzezinski were “not okay.” (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Kansas Rep. Lynn Jenkins said President Donald Trump’s remarks about MSNBC host Mike Brzezinski were “not okay.” (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
By Eric Garcia
Posted June 29, 2017 at 11:48am

Updated 5:59 p.m. | Republican members of Congress criticized President Donald Trump for his comments about TV host Mika Brzezinski on Thursday.

Trump tweeted early in the day that he turned down a meeting with Brzezinski and her “Morning Joe” co-host Joe Scarborough because she was “bleeding badly from a face-lift.”

“Obviously, I don’t see that as an appropriate comment,” House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said at his weekly news conference when asked about Trump’s tweet. “Look, what we’re trying to do around here is improve the tone and civility of the debate, and this obviously doesn’t help do that.”

Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said it is incumbent upon everyone to “tone down this divisive political rhetoric.”

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a frequent critic of the president, said the tweet was beneath Trump’s office.

Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado, another frequent Trump critic in a district that broke for Hillary Clinton, said the tweets “need to stop.”

 

Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, another Trump critic, tweeted “Please just stop,” adding that “this isn’t normal.”

Kansas Rep. Lynn Jenkins remarked that as a woman in politics, she is often criticized for her looks, while calling Trump’s remarks “not okay.”

 

Florida Rep. Carlos Curbelo didn’t address the president’s remarks directly, but said that leaders should set an example.

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski tweeted: “The Presidential platform should be used for more than bringing people down.”

 

Democrats also piled on, expressing their disapproval of Trump’s words on Twitter.

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