On Wednesday night, Greg Gianforte, a Republican candidate in Montana's special election, physically assaulted a reporter after being questioned about Donald Trump's health care plan and the recent score from the Congressional Budget Office. As the news took over the headlines, one host on MSNBC put the blame at the doorstep of the White House.

Morning Joe on Trump

During the 2016 presidential election, it became clear that political tension between the left and right was not going to improve at any point in the near future. Riots at Donald Trump rallies became routine, often dominating that news coverage in the process.

One Trump rally in Chicago became so heated that law enforcement forced the event to shut down due to violence breaking out between supporters and protesters. Trump's war of words with the media has also created a hostile environment for journalists covering the election and its aftermath, as it's been made clear that those on the political right are not a fan of the press. When the news broke that Greg Gianforte had reportedly "body slammed" Ben Jacobs of The Guardian on Wednesday night, the story horrified many, but it didn't come as a surprise. As seen during the May 25 edition of "Morning Joe" on MSNBC, host Joe Scarborough gave his thoughts.

During a segment on Thursday morning's "Morning Joe," Joe Scarborough didn't hold back his opinion on what went down between Greg Gianforte and Ben Jacobs, and decided to put the blame on Donald Trump.

"The fish rots, again, from the head," Scarborough said. The host went on to rhetorically ask and scold the Republican Party, wondering when they will start criticizing Trump for "attacking federal judges" and "calling the press the enemy of the people."

Joe Scarborough, a former Republican congressman himself, blasted the GOP for tolerating Donald Trump's "brutish behavior from the top." " I want to hear Republicans speak out against it," he continued, while labeling the party as "cowardice." Fellow panel guests, including Elise Jordan and Willie Geist, doubled down on Scarborough's remarks, as the MSNBC crew appeared dumbfounded by what took place between Greg Gianforte and Ben Jacobs.

Moving forward

With Greg Gianforte being charged with a misdemeanor assault just hours before voters head to the polls, it appears as if the altercation could cost Republicans a seat in the House of Representatives. As for Donald Trump, he continues on with his first foreign trip as president, having already made stops in Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Rome.
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