Hot Mic Catches MSNBC Host Agreeing to Ask Soft Questions to Trump

Hot Mic Captures Trump Chatting With Morning Joe Hosts: "You Had Me Almost As a Legendary Figure" (Gawker)

The comedian and radio show host Harry Shearer has audio of what sure sounds like a casual off-the-air exchange between Donald Trump and Morning Joe co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. “You had me almost as a legendary figure,” Trump says at one point, apparently referring to a segment on that day’s show.

The recording comes at an uncomfortable moment for Joe and Mika, who are facing criticism for an allegedly cozy relationship with the Republican front-runner. CNN’s Dylan Byers reported that some NBC employees are disconcerted about the apparent friendship, and the visibly agitated hosts defended themselves on-air last week.

According to Shearer, the recording was taken during an off-the-air segment of Scarborough and Brzezinski’s “town hall” interview with Trump in Charleston, South Carolina, on February 17.