President Donald Trump's apparent "self-dealing" is becoming a political issue for the Republican Party, according to MSNBC's Joe Scarborough.
The president and his family have raked in up to $1 billion since he returned to office in January, according to some estimates, and Trump's sons have reportedly used their father's position for their own benefit in business ventures. But the "Morning Joe" host said this weekend's "Great Gatsby"-themed party at Mar-a-Lago exemplified a growing problem for Republicans.
"If I were a Republican running on Tuesdayand again, there's thisobliviousness to what's goingon there," Scarborough said. "There's thisself-dealing, there's these 'Gatsby'-themed parties, and,again, let's show this, thispoll, NBC News poll that showsthat when it comes to we'vetalked about the right track,wrong track direction over andover again that that's upsidedown, that most people, mostpolls that were out last weekand the week before show Donald Trump in the 30s.
"As far asapproval ratings on the economyhere, only 34 percent of Americansbelieve that he's lived up toexpectations on the economy."
"Nearly two out of three sayhe's fallen short, and withfood assistance being torn frompeople in red state Americaespecially, but also blue state America, there are a lot ofpeople in his own party thatare asking, what the hell'sgoing on?" Scarborough added.
Co-host Jonathan Lemire explained how images from the party came into public view and revealed the White House reaction to questions about it.
"You'reright, that party on Friday asthe government remains shutdown, just hours before the SNAPdeadline, where suddenlymillions of Americans would gohungry," Lemire said. "This 'Great Gatsby'-themed party at Mar-a-Lago – I'mgoing to hazard a guess that President Trump hasn't read thebook and knows howit turned out.
"The White House presspool was briefly allowed inside," Lemire added. "What we're not showing here isthere were also scantily claddancers in martini glasses. Butthat White House official toldthe pool there, quote, 'alittle party never killednobody.'"