WATCH: Chris Matthews Says ‘Nixon Had Shame,’ Suggests Trump Should Resign Even Though Mueller Report Found No Collusion
Should a person who was just determined to have not committed a crime still resign in shame?
That seems to be what MSNBC host Chris Matthews was suggesting during a panel discussion on “Morning Joe.” Matthews and his fellow panelists were discussing the report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller, which found “no evidence” of collusion between President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. The topic turned, naturally, to another major American investigation involving a president — Richard Nixon.
“I think Nixon had shame,” Matthews said. “It may not have been moral shame, but was political shame. He knew he blew it.”
Matthews then explained that Nixon “got caught up” in various scandals, including one during his first campaign in 1946, when he accused incumbent Democrat opponent Jerry Voorhis of having communist ties. Switching back to Nixon resigning as president over the Watergate scandal, Matthews suggested Trump should do the same.
“[Nixon] got caught, and he knew it, and he cried, and he left,” Matthews said. “Trump doesn't have that faculty."
Host Mika Brezezinski nodded her head and agreed.
.@HardballChris: "I think Nixon had shame. It may have not been moral shame, but it was political shame ... He got caught, and he knew it, and he cried, and he left. Trump doesn't have that faculty." pic.twitter.com/aXFpRa5N7z— MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 25, 2019
Matthews made these comments the day after Attorney General William Barr released his summary of Mueller’s report, which found “no evidence” of collusion. Democrats will point to another line in the summary, which states that Mueller’s “report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.” Neither Barr nor Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein believed the allegations that Trump had “obstructed justice” warranted further investigation.
Still, it’s a far stretch to suggest Trump should resign over something he doesn’t appear to have done.
Earlier in the program, Matthews expressed his shock and dismay that neither Trump nor his children, associates, nor “henchmen” would be indicted.
“I think the Democrats have got to win the election,” Matthews said, hinting that the party must win in order to hold Trump accountable for the alleged crimes for which Mueller found no evidence.
Matthews has had a strained relationship with reality when it comes to Republicans, especially Trump. In December of last year, he suggested that Trump should resign as part of a deal with Mueller to ensure the president’s children were not indicted as part of the investigation.
“What if he were to say he would let the children walk if the old man does the same? That would mean giving up the presidency in exchange for acquittals all around ― not just for himself, but for all his kids," Matthews said.
Now Matthews is trying to keep the “resignation” fire lit by suggesting Trump resign just because the MSNBC host wants him to. Democrats hung their hopes on Mueller discovering evidence of collusion and obstruction that would lead to Trump’s downfall. That hasn’t happened, so the Left is stuck demanding he resign even though Mueller recommended no indictments of anyone close to Trump — or any American, for that matter — for colluding with Russia.
As for the obstruction charge, this is just the Left demanding people they believe are guilty not publicly defend themselves or suggest the investigation against them is a sham — even when it is.
