MSNBC host Joe Scarborough on Thursday criticized the White House doctor who evaluated President Donald Trump, calling him a "political hack."
Scarborough read from and praised an opinion article in the Washington Post which criticized Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, the physician to the president.
The article from Dana Millbank seems to question Jackson's credentials as a doctor and whether he was being controlled by the White House.
"The doctor has certainly taken on the lifeform of other lifeforms inside the Trump White House," Scarborough said. "He sounded like a sycophant; he didn't sound like a doctor."
Many members of the media were surprised by Jackson's positive assessment of Trump's health during a press briefing where he discussed the results of the president's recent physical. Jackson concluded the president's overall health was "excellent" and he preformed "exceedingly well" on a cognitive exam, which the president had pushed to be included. He noted the president would be healthier if he lost some weight, so he will be working with Trump to establish a healthier diet and exercise regimen.
Jackson was a White House physician during the administrations of both former president Barack Obama and George W. Bush, and has been widely praised.
"I'm sure this guy is a great guy, great physician, blah, blah, blah," Scarborough said. "He shouldn't have sounded so Trumpian first of all, and secondly, he works in a White House where just about everybody who makes public statements lie."
"Are we questioning his integrity? No, we're not. I'm just questioning his motivations. I mean maybe he likes eating at the White House mess. I don't know," Scarborough said. "But his own words are not the words of a physician; they're the words of a political hack."
The "Morning Joe" analysis was not the first time the panel criticized Jackson. The day prior, Scarborough suggested Jackson was lying in his conclusions about Trump's physical and mental fitness. The MSNBC host in the past frequently suggested Trump could have early on-set dementia.
Scarborough does not have a medical degree.