Joe Scarborough Brushes Off Backlash Over Trump Meeting As ‘Massive Disconnect’ Between ‘Social Media and the Real World’

Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough dismissed backlash over his visit to President-elect Donald Trump from media colleagues as proof of a “massive disconnect” between “social media and the real world.”

During Monday’s show Scarborough and co-host Mika Brzezinski revealed they had visited Trump on Friday, explaining to viewers that they wanted to “restart communications” and that it was “time for a new approach” in their coverage of the incoming administration.

The announcement received almost immediate backlash from commentators and some in the media who blasted the move and pointed to the hosts longtime anti-Trump criticism, while others viewed it as a cynical ploy to turn around a drop in ratings.

During the opening of Tuesday’s show Scarborough reacted by thanking those who had reached out in support and dismissed his critics as out of touch.

I will say, first of all, thank you to everyone who was so kind last night. Yesterday I saw for the first time what a massive disconnect there was between social media and the real world because we were flooded with phone calls from people all day, literally around the world, all very positive, very supportive, ‘I understand what you did…’ etcetera, etcetera.

But once in a while I would get a text or call from someone going, ‘Oh, man, I hope you’re doing okay.’ I would call them back, Eddie Glaude was one of them, I’d go: ‘Are you on Twitter?’ And he goes, ‘I am.’ I’d go ‘Well I’m not so we’ve had a good day. Mika had a wonderful event and it’s fantastic.’ All of us will do the best we can do and we’re all working towards a better America.

“Take it day by day, people,” Brzezinski added.

“Day by day,” Scarborough echoed. Again, you can predict the future by shaping the future.”

Watch above on MSNBC.