A stern official statement issued from White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on Thursday drew smirks and laughter on MSNBC on Friday morning.
With fears growing that the putatively anti-war Donald Trump may plunge the U.S. into the expanding battle between Israel and Iran, Leavitt tried to set the record straight by lecturing reporters, "Regarding the ongoing situation in Iran, I know there has been a lot of speculation amongst all of you in the media regarding the president's decision-making and whether or not the United States will be directly involved.
"In light of that news, I have a message directly from the president."
"Based on the fact that there is a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place in the near future, I will make my decision of whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” she read. "That's a quote directly from the president for all of you today."
That led "Morning Joe" co-host Joe Scarborough to remark, to one panelist, "So, David Ignatius. Two weeks? Two weeks? Where have I heard that before?"
That led all five members of the panel to begin laughing.
"I mean, it is, it is Donald Trump's standard unit of time for telling you ––," he continued.
"To make a decision," co-host Mika Brzezinski interjected.
Health proposals coming out. When he is going to hold Vladimir Putin accountable. And if you're Bibi Netanyahu you have to be worried that he says the decision is going to be made in two weeks. And yet, if you're Iran, you don't really trust that, do you?" Scarborough added as Ignatius kept smiling.
