Emotions ran high during an NBC “Meet the Press” panel Sunday centered on the war in Ukraine and the GOP’s attitude toward Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Over the last several days, pundits and commentators have been critical of former President Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for praising Vladimir Putin.
Sunday’s panel included host Chuck Todd, NBC News White House correspondent Kristen Welker, NBC News national security analyst Jeremy Bash, NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, and Danielle Pletka of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think-tank in Washington, D.C.
The panel discussion became heated when Todd played a clip of Trump and Pompeo referring to Putin as intelligent and capable. “The problem is not that Putin is smart, which of course he’s smart, but the real problem is that our leaders are dumb. Dumb. So dumb.”
Mitchell chimed in and suggested that Pompeo may be saying things to score political points with the far right.
“Mike Pompeo, he is so eager to get to the right of Ted Cruz and other 2024 wannabes that to embrace Putin and align himself with Trump on that just shows that he doesn’t believe it, okay, he’s a smart guy,” said Mitchell. “He’s a West Point guy.”
Pletka responded by admitting that Trump’s judgment on Putin has not been “awesome.”
“I think Mike Pompeo misspoke. I don’t think that Mike Pompeo actually cares deeply,” said Pletka.
Pletka’s comments set off several side conversations to which she replied. “Hang on. First, there are four of you and one of me. I’m the only Republican sitting here! Hang on a second.”
“We’re not Republicans or Democrats,” countered Mitchell. “We’re journalists.”
