MSNBC's Donny Deutsch mocked President Donald Trump for trying to look tough against women and children trying to enter the U.S. but covering up a murder apparently ordered by the Saudi crown prince.
"Morning Joe" panelists reacted in shock and horror at U.S. troops launching tear gas across the Mexico border at migrant families fleeing violence in Central America, and former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele said the president wouldn't mind if the crisis got worse.
"Congress needs to step up and step in here to redirect the hands of the president," Steele said.
MSNBC analyst Mike Barnicle said the situation was entirely preventable and created by Trump administration bungling.
"This is just another long line of chaos and incompetence brought to you by the Trump administration," he said. "We do not have an ambassador to Mexico."
Barnicle said the border situation could erupt into a Kent State type of tragedy, and host Willie Geist said the president was inflaming the situation to make himself look tough.
"This is what getting tough on immigration looks like to President Trump," Geist said.
Deutsch, who knows the president personally, said Trump was fundamentally a coward.
"I love Mr. Tough Guy who is tough on women and children, but when it comes to the crown prince (Mohammed bin Salman) or it comes to Vladimir Putin, the tough people," Deutsch said, "he backs down like the wussy that he is."
