MSNBC had to abruptly cut to a commercial break on Wednesday after a blaring office alarm interrupted an interview with former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who is now the Libertarian Party’s vice presidential candidate.
Host Jose Diaz-Balart was asking Weld whether the Libertarian ticket, which also includes former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, will help Democrats by taking votes away from presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump when a loud alarm could be heard in the background, disrupting the interview.
"We’re right down the middle, and, you know, we don’t really agree with the Democrats about spending more money than you take in," Weld explained. "Gary Johnson and I served together as governors, mutual admiration society. And we were rated the two most fiscally conservative governors in the United States, so no argument there - "
Weld was interrupted as a blaring alarm could be heard in the background. He spoke through the disruption, however, and explained that the Libertarian Party does not support the socially conservative beliefs that much of the GOP holds.
"We do not believe in the government making decisions for people in their personal lives, and I’m so sorry to say, but I think my long-time party, the Republican Party, has a distinct hue of that. So we reject that," Weld said.
As Weld concluded his answer by describing his party’s platform as a centrist one that is not on the fringe, the alarm came blaring back, causing Diaz-Balart to uncomfortably try and explain the situation.
"Governor, I’m having a little problem with a siren going off right now," Diaz-Balart said as the alarm continued to make noise. "But let me see if we can work on this. And it‘s live television, I apologize for that."
Diaz-Balart persevered through the commotion and tried to continue the interview.
"But, but I want to focus in, if we can do that while this conversation is carrying on," Diaz-Balart said, appearing to motion for someone to fix the alarm. "You’ve compared Donald Trump’s plan to deport 11 million or so undocumented immigrants to the Holocaust. Why do you think that comparison is appropriate?"
"Oh, I think it’s completely appropriate," Weld responded. "Rounding up and deporting 11 million people. They’d be hiding in attics to not get found and sent back to Mexico. It would remind me of Anne Frank hiding in the attic. It’s just not the tone I think is right for the United States."
The siren went off again as Weld went on to compare Trump’s idea to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border to the Berlin Wall from the Cold War, which he called a "stain" on the Soviet Union.
"I think Mr. Trump is on the wrong side of history in these issues," Weld added.
The siren proceeded to go off again, and Diaz-Balart was forced to go to a commercial break so the problem could be fixed.
"Governor, I’m still having a short—having a problem with this audio," the host said. "We’re going to take a short break, and governor, if you could, stay with me. We’ll be right back. Thank you very much."
The show then immediately cut to a commercial.
MSNBC has a history of technical difficulties, miscommunications, and awkward moments, a recent Free Beacon SuperCut revealed.