MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski angrily called Secretary of State Mike Pompeo a "wannabe dictator's buttboy" on Wednesday in criticism of his response to Saudi Arabian crown prince Mohammed bin Salman's reported role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Pompeo appeared on "Fox & Friends" Wednesday, where he toed the Trump administration's line on the murder, saying it was unclear what role the crown prince played and touting the importance of the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.
"The murder of Jamal Khashoggi was a tragic incident. It was heinous. It is not something America approves of," he said. "But America has an important ally in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
Host Joe Scarborough and analyst John Heilemann agreed that President Donald Trump "doesn't care" about the murder because of his financial interests, but they were perplexed why Pompeo "debased" himself with his defense of the crown prince.
Brzezinski took it a step further, using a crass term for someone on the receiving end of anal sex to describe Pompeo.
"I understand that Donald Trump doesn't care ... But why doesn't Mike Pompeo care right now?" she asked. "Are the pathetic deflections that we just heard when he appeared on Fox and Friends, is that a patriot speaking, or a wannabe dictator's buttboy? I'm dead serious. I'm asking, are these the words of a patriot?"
"He's debased himself," Scarborough said. "He once again has undercut the conclusions of our intel community."
She apologized on Twitter afterward, calling it a "SUPER BAD choice of words" and suggesting she should have said "water boy" instead.
Totally agree with you -SUPER BAD choice of words .. I should have said 'water boy"... like for football teams or something like that.. apologize to @SenatorDurbin too! SO SORRY! https://t.co/zIqsGdK3Tk
— Mika Brzezinski (@morningmika) December 12, 2018