MSNBC host Joe Scarborough called President Trump a "dope" on Wednesday over his late-night tweet touting a "Big R win" in the Georgia sixth congressional district race.
After well-funded Democrat Jon Ossoff was unable to clinch victory Tuesday and got forced into a runoff against top Republican vote-getter Karen Handel, Trump tweeted jubilantly that he was "glad to be of help."
Despite major outside money, FAKE media support and eleven Republican candidates, BIG "R" win with runoff in Georgia. Glad to be of help!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 19, 2017
After Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski read out the tweet, Scarborough repeated Trump's words with disgust.
"Glad to be of help. What a dope," Scarborough said. "What a dope."
"Joe! This is the president of the United States," Brzezinski said in faux admonishment.
The special election race received national attention as a potential referendum on Trump's young administration.
Although the metro Atlanta district has elected Republicans for decades, Ossoff raised more than $8 million, much of it from out-of-state donations, and hoped to get more than 50 percent of the vote in the crowed field and avoid a runoff. He finished just short on Tuesday night with around 48 percent of the vote, pitting him in a June one-on-one race against Handel.
Trump, knowing Republicans would be embarrassed if Democrats flipped the seat, tweeted about the race beforehand and taunted Ossoff over not actually living in the sixth district. He also recorded a robocall attacking Ossoff as too liberal for Georgia.
Just learned that Jon @Ossoff, who is running for Congress in Georgia, doesn't even live in the district. Republicans, get out and vote!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2017
Republicans must get out today and VOTE in Georgia 6. Force runoff and easy win! Dem Ossoff will raise your taxes-very bad on crime & 2nd A.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2017
Democrat Jon Ossoff would be a disaster in Congress. VERY weak on crime and illegal immigration, bad for jobs and wants higher taxes. Say NO
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2017