MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” host, Joe Scarborough, nearly uttered an expletive on live television on Friday, November 21, 2025, while criticizing House Speaker Mike Johnson for supporting President Donald Trump’s inflammatory social media remarks about Democratic lawmakers.
The tense moment arose after Scarborough viewed clips of Johnson and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt discussing Trump’s Truth Social posts, which implied that six Democratic members of Congress could face execution for what Trump described as “seditious behavior.” These lawmakers, all veterans of the military or intelligence community, had released a video urging service members to disobey illegal orders.
Scarborough began his commentary by saying, “These people are lying through their f—” before correcting himself to “These people are lying through their teeth.” His co-host and wife, Mika Brzezinski, quickly interjected with a nervous laugh, asserting, “He didn’t say it! It was only half.”
The controversy originates from a video released on Tuesday featuring Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin, along with Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, and Chrissy Houlahan, reminding current service members of their duty to refuse illegal orders as part of their constitutional obligations.
Trump’s response included several Truth Social posts, including one claiming that the lawmakers’ actions amounted to “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” Trump also reshared a post from a Truth Social user that suggested “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!”
When questioned by reporters about Trump’s threatening language, Johnson offered a generous interpretation, suggesting that Trump was merely “defining the crime of sedition” and calling it a factual statement. Johnson then criticized the Democratic lawmakers, labeling their video “wildly inappropriate” and accusing them of promoting general disobedience among troops rather than focusing solely on illegal orders.
This characterization angered Scarborough, who accused Johnson and other Trump supporters of engaging in what he called Orwellian doublespeak. He argued that Johnson deliberately misrepresented the Democrats’ message, which focused on illegal orders rather than lawful commands.
“Mike Johnson knows that this is all about what military men and women need to do to uphold their sacred oath, and that is not to commit illegal actions,” Scarborough stated during the broadcast. He continued to criticize what he saw as the deliberate misrepresentation by Republican officials and conservative media.
Leavitt, addressing a White House press conference, denied that Trump intended for members of Congress to be executed. However, she maintained that the Democratic lawmakers’ video could incite chaos or violence and suggested their actions might be legally punishable.
“Morning Joe” co-host Jonathan Lemire noted similarities to previous Trump controversies, observing a recurring pattern of inflammatory remarks designed to divert attention from negative news cycles.
Scarborough concurred, suggesting that Trump intentionally stirred controversy to distract from his poll numbers and other negative stories. He expressed frustration that the tactic was effective, noting that media coverage had shifted focus from other topics.
Co-host Willie Geist remarked that Trump understood his supporters would defend any statement he made, whether on television, podcasts, or in Congress. This unwavering support, Geist suggested, allowed the president to issue increasingly provocative statements without political consequences among his base.
Before catching himself on the expletive, Scarborough had mocked Johnson’s response with an exaggerated accent, joking about the speaker needing a fainting couch for his reaction to the Democrats’ video. After the near-slip, Brzezinski jokingly claimed he only said half the word.
Representative Chrissy Houlahan later criticized Johnson’s response as “mealymouthed,” expressing disappointment in his leadership and his portrayal of the Democratic veterans’ message. The congresswoman emphasized that the video specifically addressed illegal orders, not lawful military commands.
This incident underscores ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic lawmakers regarding the domestic use of military force and the limits of presidential authority. Military service members take an oath to support and defend the Constitution, which includes provisions requiring them to refuse orders that violate federal law.
