MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart calls Trump supporters 'more worrisome' than the Taliban or ISIS on 20th anniversary of 9/11
On the eve of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart announced that he believed that Trump supporters are more of a threat than the Taliban or ISIS.
Capehart called out 'MAGA and the domestic threat', which he said was far 'more worrisome than any foreign threat', during an appearance at PBS NewsHour on Friday.
The Washington Post columnist and news host went on to describe the last several years as 'one giant step forward, and then two giant steps back.'
'One giant step forward was the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States, first black president. But a huge step back was the election of Donald Trump as president. Another huge, huge step forward, the election of Joe Biden as president of the United States,' Capehart said.
''But another huge step back, to my mind, one was the fact that, even though Donald Trump lost the election, he got 15 — 12 million more votes than he did in 2016. So it just highlights the divisions within the country,' he added.
Capehart (pictured) called out 'MAGA and the domestic threat' on Friday
John Yang, center, who was hosting the interview, asked Capehart if he meant 'that other forces have changed politics more since 9/11 than 9/11'
Capehart specifically cited the January 6 Capitol siege as a turning point in where MAGA supporters of former president Donald Trump violently invaded the Capitol Building in Washington DC in an effort to disrupt a joint session of Congress that was busy counting electoral votes in Joe Biden's favor.
'And then the ultimate step back, January 6. My colleague Carlos Lozada said this morning on television that how ironic it is that, on September 11, there were reports that the plane that went down in Shanksville was headed to the Capitol, headed to crash into the Capitol,' Capehart continued.
'And yet, at almost 20 years later, the Capitol was ransacked by domestic terrorists who lay siege to the U.S. Capitol at a time when the members of Congress were certifying the last election.'
John Yang, who was hosting the interview, asked Capehart if he meant 'that other forces have changed politics more since 9/11 than 9/11.'
'Oh, I think so. I think MAGA and the domestic terror threat is much more worrisome than any foreign threat we could face.'
Social media reactions towards the MSNBC host was largely negative, with most users expressing frustration with Capehart's take on MAGA politics and Islamic fanaticism.
'The most worrisome threats are ignorant MSNBC pundits, like this fool. Jonathan Capehart: MAGA threat more worrisome than ISIS or Taliban 20 years after 9/11,' another user wrote
Social media reactions towards the MSNBC host was largely negative
'Should we not focus on ISIS & Al Qaeda now? C’mon man!' Charles Marino tweeted
'So frustrating when people with zero national security experience talk about threats in numerical ratings or use expressions like 'more worrisome' in an effort to politicize threats. Should we not focus on ISIS & Al Qaeda now? C’mon man!' Charles Marino tweeted.
'The most worrisome threats are ignorant MSNBC pundits, like this fool. MSNBC's Jonathan Capehart: MAGA threat more worrisome than ISIS or Taliban 20 years after 9/11,' another user wrote.
'Me: 'Siri, please tell me that @MSNBC will finally stop working to minimize the domestic and global threat of Islamist fanaticism, in the wake of 9/11+20.' Siri: 'Sorry, Jon, they're doubling down,' a third offered in response to Capehart, while noting the 20th anniversary to the 9/11 attacks.
Tear gas is released into a crowd of protesters during clashes with Capitol police at a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the US Congress
'Oh, I think so. I think MAGA and the domestic terror threat is much more worrisome than any foreign threat we could face' Capehart continued
More than one talking head has offered similar hot takes, in comparing the 9/11 attacks to the January 6 Capitol riots, something families of victim's call nothing more than an effort to 'score political points.'
'It's a shame,' said Jim Riches, whose son died at the World Trade Center, according to Fox News.
'Are they kidding me? 3,000 people died, plus we have more people dying from the air that was down there … They're comparing it to score points politically. The families are really [angry]. When I talk to them, when they compare it to that, they find that outrageous.'
Meanwhile, the Taliban has been at odds with ISIS-K, the Islamic State arm in Afghanistan, after the Taliban took over the capitol of Kabul amidst the mass withdrawal of US troops.
ISIS is a sworn enemy to both the Taliban and the United States.
