A pair of MSNBC analysts torched President Donald Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner for downplaying -- and even ignoring -- Russian efforts to manipulate American democracy.
Kushner on Tuesday complained that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Trump-Russia campaign ties was worse than Kremlin efforts to interfere in the 2016 election, and "Morning Joe" political analyst Mike Barnicle was appalled.
"The combination of arrogance and ignorance that he displayed in answering that question is nearly breathtaking, but it is predictable," Barnicle said. "It is also very predictable as to why so many members of the intelligence community did not want to give him a security clearance. Based on that answer, he ought not to have a security clearance."
MSNBC contributor Elise Jordan, a White House and State Department aide during the George W. Bush administration, expressed shock and disgust about reports that White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney prevented ousted Homeland Security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen from telling the president about her work against future Russian meddling.
"It is mind-blowing to me that Dear Leader's feelings are more important than protecting the integrity of fair and free elections," Jordan said. "It's insanity that we have a leader whose ego will not allow us to address critical national security threats because his feelings might be hurt and because it calls into question his election."