Ronna McDaniel appeared on NBC News’ Meet the Press on Sunday (March 24) for an interview just days after the network announced they were hiring her as a political commentator. That interview is now going viral due to her hypocrisy towards the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Here’s what has the internet going crazy!
Donald Trump Wants To Free All Jan. 6 ‘Hostages’
On March 11, Donald Trump took to his Truth Social account and declared that his first acts as President would be to ‘Close the Border, DRILL, BABY, DRILL, and Free the January 6 Hostages being wrongfully imprisoned!’
During Friday’s interview, host Kristen Welker asked McDaniel – who stepped down as chair of the Republican National Committee on March 8 – whether she supports Donald Trump when he says that. Her response is drawing a lot of backlash.
Ronna McDaniel Doesn’t Agree With Trump
“I want to be very clear,” McDaniel began her response. “The violence that happened on Jan. 6 is unacceptable. It doesn’t represent our country, it certainly does not represent my party. We should not be attacking the Capitol.”
She was then asked to clarify if she agreed with Trump’s alleged ‘first acts’ as President. “I do not think people who committed violent acts on Jan. 6 should be freed,” she replied. Keep in mind – this is coming from someone who has supported Donald Trump for years.
McDaniel Pressed By NBC Host Kristen Welker
And that’s the angle Welker took in her follow-up question when she asked McDaniel why she didn’t speak out earlier. Her response: “When you’re the RNC Chair, you kind of take one for the whole team,” she said – adding that she gets to be a ‘little more about myself.’
She went on to double down on her disdain for violent acts – whether it be from Democrats or Republicans. While she admits she agrees with Donald Trump on a ‘host of other things,’ freeing the Jan. 6 ‘hostages’ is not one of those things.
Liz Cheney Calls McDaniel Out
Liz Cheney, a Trump critic and former chair of the House Republican Conference (2019-21), wasn’t about to let McDaniel get away with hypocrisy – taking aim at the former RNC chair on X just a few hours after the interview aired.
“Ronna facilitated Trump’s corrupt fake elector plot & his effort to pressure MI officials not to certify the legitimate election outcome,” Cheney wrote. “She spread his lies & called 1/6 ‘legitimate political discourse.’ That’s not ‘taking one for the team.’ It’s enabling criminality & depravity.”
Many Others Criticize NBC For Hiring McDaniel
By the time the interview hit the internet, it was already taking on a life of its own. Democratic viewers were scratching their heads at why NBC News would hire a longtime Republican and Trump supporter, while Republicans poked fun at the dysfunction unfold.
By Sunday, a majority of NBC News’ hosts and personalities had already spoken out against her being hired. Internet users started digging up old clips, quotes, and soundbites to play into that concern – and now her future with the network is being questioned.
McDaniel Played Into Trump’s Election Fraud Claims In 2020
One of the more controversial headlines with McDaniel was her involvement in the push to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. In fact, she was recorded on a phone call with Donald Trump as he pressured Michigan officials not to certify the election.
“If you can go home tonight, do not sign it… we will get you attorneys,” McDaniel said on the phone call. It was just one of the many ways she tried to perpetuate Trump’s false claims about election fraud after losing to Joe Biden in 2020.
Chuck Todd Questions McDaniel’s Credibility
Former Meet the Press host Chuck Todd appeared on the show moments after McDaniel’s interview concluded. He said NBC News owes Welker an apology for putting her in a tough position before criticizing McDaniel for her lack of credibility.
“I have no idea whether any answer she gave to you was because she didn’t want to mess up her contract,” he said. “She wants us to believe that she was speaking for the RNC when the RNC was paying her. So she has she has credibility issues that she still has to deal with.”
Todd Clarifies Stance On X
Todd, who also criticized the former RNC chair for ‘gaslighting’ and ‘character assassination’ in the past, took to his X account on Monday to clarify his stance against the hiring of McDaniel – saying it has nothing to do with ideology, but rather ‘about basic truth.’
“Those trying to make this a left-right issue are being intentionally dishonest,” he added. “This is about whether honest journalists are supposed to lend their credibility to someone who intentionally tried to ruin ours.”
MSNBC Says They Won’t Work With McDaniel
On Saturday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Rashida Jones – president of MSNBC – sent a memo to employees declaring that they had no plans to utilize Ronna McDaniel on the cable outlet – despite earlier claims that she would appear ‘across all NBC News platforms.’
“As columnists we are held to strict standards of factuality and truth, and are expected to have a fundamental understanding of our democracy,” one MSNBC columnist wrote in an email to NBC News management.
Olivia Troye Wants McDaniel To Apologize To FBI
Olivia Troye, a national security official and former member of Vice President Mike Pence’s staff, took to her X account and criticized Ronna McDaniel for having done ‘grave damage’ to the United States with her repeated lies.
“While she now states that she doesn’t condone violence & attacks on law enforcement–would love to hear her explanation regarding the fundraising text messages she authorized that went out from the RNC attacking the FBI for doing their jobs,” she wrote – adding that she owes an apology to the national security and law enforcement community.
Adam Kinzinger Calls It A ‘Head-Scratching’ Hire By NBC
Former Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, one of the few Republican Trump critics out there and current political commentator for CNN, also took to X to speak out against the hire – calling it ‘one of the most head-scratching things.’
“She led the censure for Liz Cheney and I (which we could care less about) and empowered Trump and neutered everyone else in the primary. Insane choice. Lies lies lies for NBC viewers,” he said of ‘Ronna Romney’ – she’s the niece of Senator Mitt Romney.
Victor Shi Calls McDaniel Interview ‘Shameful’
Victor Shi, the youngest elected Delegate for Joe Biden in 2020, accused NBC News of knowing ‘exactly what they were doing’ with the hiring of McDaniel. “Her interview this morning, full of lies & gaslighting, was expected—& it’s why I didn’t watch & never will watch her. Shameful,” he wrote on X.
He went on to refuse to share the clip of the interview because she doesn’t deserve ‘attention or coverage’ for her role in the effort to overturn the 2020 election. He also criticized NBC News – adding that they could’ve hired ‘any sane Republican,’ but they chose McDaniel.
NBC News Considering Cutting Ties With McDaniel
With the brutal reception she has received over the past few days, NBC News is now reportedly considering cutting ties with McDaniel, according to a Fox News Digital insider. The insider added that there is growing support inside the network to drop her.
According to Shi, both CNN and ABC were in serious discussions to bring Ronna McDaniel on board as a contributor. That means, even if NBC News does drop her in the coming days, it won’t take long for her to find a role elsewhere.
