Republican frontrunner Donald Trump abruptly fired off tweets attacking MSNBC's Joe Scarborough on Friday, mocking Morning Joe's ratings and Scarborough's political insight.
Trump mocked Scarborough for supporting Jeb Bush and suggested that the cable news host was pushing for a third-party candidate to run in the general election, which he said would ensure a Hillary Clinton victory.
Scarborough fired back quickly, calling Trump "Donnie boy," "fella," and "cowboy" and insisting Morning Joe's ratings were as high as ever. He predicted his show would "beat CNN for the seventh straight year," not noting the show loses its slot to Fox & Friends on Fox News Channel.
Joe Scarborough initially endorsed Jeb Bush and Jeb crashed, then John Kasich and that didn't work. Not much power or insight!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 6, 2016
I hear @JoeNBC of rapidly fading @Morning_Joe is pushing hard for a third party candidate to run. This will guarantee a Crooked Hillary win.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 6, 2016
Define "rapidly fading," Donnie boy. https://t.co/DVsBHctzgd
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) May 6, 2016
"Rapidly fading?" Umm...we are enjoying our best ratings ever. Lots of luck, fella. https://t.co/DVsBHctzgd
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) May 6, 2016
You heard wrong, cowboy. We talk about scenarios. Never fear. MJ is going to beat CNN for the 7th straight year! 😳https://t.co/DVsBHctzgd
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) May 6, 2016
The tweets were surprising, given the two mens' seemingly friendly relationship over the course of Trump's candidacy. Scarborough has boasted repeatedly on Morning Joe of having the foresight that Trump could have an impact on the Republican race, and NBC insiders and media observers have criticized him and co-host Mika Brzezinski for being overly cozy with Trump and even boosting his nomination fight.
Only Wednesday did Scarborough interrupt co-host Willie Geist's tough questioning of Trump to tell the billionaire that his brother was delighted at Trump's success. Scarborough and Brzezinski have sometimes angrily responded to accusations that they are too close to the candidate, despite evidence to the contrary.
However, Scarborough also said Thursday that he couldn't vote for Trump if he didn't change his ways, and he said Friday there was not a "better time for someone to run as an independent candidate."
Note: This article has been updated.