THURSDAY MORNING. WE'LL HAVE COVERAGE OF THE STATE OF THE UNION TONIGHT. "MORNING JOE" STARTS RIGHT NOW. >>> JANUARY 6th WAS A DISGRACE. AMERICAN CITIZENS ATTACKED THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT. THEY USED TERRORISM TO TRY TO STOP A SPECIFIC PIECE OF DOMESTIC BUSINESS THEY DIDN'T NOT LIKE. FELLOW AMERICANS BEAT AND BLOODIED OUR OWN POLICE. THEY STORMED THE SENATE FLOOR. THEY TRIED TO HUNT DOWN THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. THEY BUILT A GALLOWS AND CHANTED ABOUT MURDERING THE VICE PRESIDENT. THEY DID THIS BECAUSE THEY'D BEEN FED WILD FALSEHOODS BY THE MOST POWERFUL MAN ON EARTH. BECAUSE HE WAS ANGRY AND LOST AN ELECTION. FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ACTIONS PRECEDED THE RIOT FOR A DISGRACEFUL, DISGRACEFUL DERELICTION OF DUTY. >> THEREFORE, I AM ENDORSING DONALD J. TRUMP. YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING WE CUT OFF THERE, AND MAYBE IT'S NOT FAIR TO MITCH, IS THAT AT THE END OF IT, RIGHT AFTER THAT, HE BROKE INTO A ROUSING TUNE, HAD A BAND, "HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN." IT WAS LIKE THE '32 CONVENTION. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. YEAH, A LITTLE DISCORDANT. THE SONG DIDN'T GO WITH THE MESSAGE BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MITCH. >> MITCH McCONNELL THERE, 2021, A MONTH AFTER JANUARY 6th, BLAMING DONALD TRUMP FOR THE INSURRECTION, THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL SQUARELY. YESTERDAY, MITCH McCONNELL ENDORSED DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT. >> WHO SAW THAT COMING? >> WE SHOULD ADD DONALD TRUMP RELENTLESSLY ATTACKED IN A RACIST WAY MITCH McCONNELL'S WIFE. HE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, I SAID FOR A LONG TIME I'LL ENDORSE WHOEVER THE NOMINEE IS, EVEN IF IT IS THE GUY I BLAME FOR AN ATTEMPTED COUP AGAINST THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. >> WE SAY A LOT OF BAD THINGS ABOUT TED CRUZ SOMETIMES HERE, BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MITCH McCONNELL AND TED CRUZ. >> ALL RIGHT. >> IF DONALD TRUMP HAD EVER ATTACKED TED CRUZ'S WIFE, EVER CALLED HER UGLY, EVER STRUCK OUT AT HER IN THE MOST PERSONAL OF TERMS, THAT IS TEXAS TOUGH RIGHT THERE. >> THAT IS A REAL MAN. >> NO BS. >> YOU CAN'T CROSS THAT LINE. >> YOU CROSS THE LINE WITH TED, YOU MIGHT AS WELL HAVE CROSSED THE RIO GRANDE, MY FRIEND. >> ON THE WAY TO CANCUN? >> YEAH. >> YOU CAN'T -- LOOK -- >> THE RETRIEVAL OF MEMORIES. >> CALL TED CRUZ'S WIFE UGLY OR SAY HIS FATHER ASSASSINATED JFK, HE WON'T SUPPORT YOU. >> AT LEAST FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. >> NOT AT THE CONVENTION. >> A FEW MONTHS LATER, HE'LL DO A PHONE BANK FOR DONALD TRUMP. >> WELL, LINDSEY GRAHAM IS -- >> ANOTHER, YEAH. >> THERE IS A GUY, THOUGH. >> NO. >> I MEAN, THAT GUY. >> PROFILE IN COURAGE. >> MR. SPINE. >> GO ON THE FLOOR. >> ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I'M OUT. THEN THREE RED NECKS AND A HOUND DOG CHASE HIM AROUND REAGAN NATIONAL. >> IT'S NOT LIKE SOMEONE PUTS HIS CELL PHONE OUT THERE. >> YEAH. >> I THINK WE NEED A COMPILATION. START WITH CHRIS CHRISTIE IN THE McDONALD'S EPISODE. >> ON McCONNELL, THOUGH, I WILL SAY, THE TWO MOMENTS THAT LED TO DONALD TRUMP'S COMEBACK POST JANUARY 6th. ONE IS McCARTHY HEADING TO MAR-A-LAGO, BEGINNING THE REHABILITATION TOUR. THE ONLY IS McCONNELL NOT CHOOSING TO CONVICT TRUMP IN THE SECOND TRIAL, PUSHING IT UNTIL AFTER THE INAUGURATION. HAVING IT IN FEBRUARY, BELIEVING THINGS WOULD COOL OFF. VOTING TO ACQUIT HIMSELF. HAD HE VOTED TO CONVICT AND WHIPPED OTHERS TO DO SO, TRUMP WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RUN FOR OFFICE AGAIN. McCONNELL CHOSE NOT TO DO THAT. HERE WE HAVE THE DOOR OPEN FOR TRUMP. >> THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS MITCH DID THAT WE SALUTED ON THIS SHOW. HE STOOD UP. HE STOOD UP TO TRUMP AT VERY IMPORTANT TIMES, YET, AT THE TIME, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS ENDORSEMENT AT THE END OF HIS CAREER, BASICALLY, OR WHAT HAPPENED THE END OF THAT PROCESS, THERE WAS A QUESTION. COULD MITCH McCONNELL HAVE GOTTEN ENOUGH REPUBLICANS TO CONVICT DONALD TRUMP IN THE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING. HE MADE THE CALL, WE'LL LET THE COURTS PLAY OUT. MARA, WE SAW WHERE THAT LED US. >> PART OF BEING IN LEADERSHIP IS SHOWING ON LEADERSHIP AND ATTEMPTING TO DO WHAT YOU THINK IS RIGHT. WE ALL HAVE POLITICAL MINDS, TALK ABOUT STRATEGY, BUT THERE'S SUCH A THING AS RIGHT AND WRONG. THE END OF THE DAY, IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN WHY YOU GO TO WASHINGTON. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE TO SERVE AMERICANS. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT. THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT POWER. IT'S SHAMELESS. >> YEAH. >> AMERICANS UNDERSTAND THAT. THEY SEE THAT THAT'S PART OF WHY SO MANY VOTERS ARE DEEPLY DEMORALIZED AND CYNICAL ABOUT THIS PROCESS. >> RIGHT. >> AT THIS POINT. >> IT'S SHAMELESS BUT ALSO BIZARRE. I MEAN, HERE'S A MAN -- HOW OLD IS MITCH McCONNELL? >> OLD ENOUGH THAT IT OPPORTUNITY MATTER. >> OLD ENOUGH -- >> EXACTLY. >> I'M OLD ENOUGH THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER. >> RIGHT. WHY NOT GO OUT AND JUST SAY WHAT YOU THINK? HE DID SAY WHAT HE THOUGHT ON THAT -- FOR THAT BRIEF, SHINING MOMENT ON FEBRUARY 13, 2021, WHERE HE SAID NOT ONLY THE STUFF WE JUST SAW ON TAPE. >> RIGHT. >> HE SAID, THERE'S A CRIMINAL LAW IN THIS COUNTRY. HE WAS ENDORSING JACK SMITH BEFORE JACK SMITH WAS EVEN APPOINTED. >> RIGHT. >> HE WAS SAYING THAT THE MAN WAS A CRIMINAL, THAT HE DID CAUSE THESE PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN VIOLENCE ON THE HILL AND THAT ONE OF THE REMEDIES COULD BE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. SO WHERE IS HE TODAY? >> YEAH. >> AND FOR WHAT? HE'S DONE. >> WELL, FOR WHAT? AND I'M SORRY, I'LL ASK, AND I SAY THIS OF CRUZ, OF LINDSEY, OF ALL OF THEM. I SAY IT OF JUST ALL THE PEOPLE TRUMP INSULTED. WHAT MAN -- I SAY A MAN, BUT OR A WOMAN, BUT AS A MAN, WHAT MAN WOULD PUT UP WITH THAT? I HAD A VERY POWERFUL REPUBLICAN SLANDER A FRIEND OF MINE. 20 YEARS LATER, 20 YEARS LATER, HE PULLS ME ASIDE BEFORE A SPEECH AND BEGS ME TO STOP. HE SAYS, JESUS CHRIST, JOE, IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS. IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS. I SAID, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT ABOUT MY FRIEND. IT'S GOING TO BE 20 MORE YEARS. I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD ALL DO. WELL, EXCEPT FOR MY FRIENDS. >> BUT -- >> HOLD ON, EXCEPT FOR MY FRIENDS, WHEN DONALD TRUMP SAID I WAS A MURDERER AND SHOULD BE EXECUTED, A LOT OF THEM VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP. BUT THE REST OF US HERE. BUT THAT EVEN RAISES A QUESTION, WILLIE. WHAT IS IT ABOUT DONALD TRUMP? >> IT'S HIS BRILLIANCE. >> SOMEONE CAN ASSAULT SOMEONE'S WIFE OR HUSBAND, OR IN MITCH McCONNELL'S CASE, CONTINUE RACIST SLURS AGAINST HIS WIFE. >> YEAH. >> THEY'RE JUST FINE WITH IT. I JUST -- THAT'S NOT -- I'M NOT EVEN LOOKING AT DONALD TRUMP THERE. I'M LOOKING AT THESE PEOPLE. I'M LOOKING AT MY FORMER FRIENDS. LIKE, YEAH, HE CALLED YOU A MURDERER, BUT I'M VOTING FOR HIM ANYWAY. REGULATIONS, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL BE DOWN UNDER TRUMP. >> YEAH. >> CRAZY. >> YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS ON AND OFF THE AIR. WHAT ARE THOSE LOOKS IN THE MIRROR LIKE IN THE MORNING OR AT NIGHT FOR LINDSEY GRAHAM, TED CRUZ, ANY OF THE GUYS WITH PERSONAL PRIDE. NOT TALKING ABOUT POLITICS. IF YOU HAVE ANY PERSONAL PRIDE, HOW DO YOU SWALLOW ALL THAT DOWN AND GO OUT AND SUPPORT THE GUY WHO ATTACKED YOU RELENTLESSLY? HE ATTACKS LINDSEY GRAHAM IN HIS HOME STATE DURING THE PRIMARY. >> LIBERAL. >> THE CROWDS -- >> GETS THE CROWD TO BOO LINDSEY. >> TAKES THEIR SUPPORT FOR GRANTED, AND HE SHOULD BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING HE CAN DO TO THEM THAT THEY WOULDN'T CALL IN LINE ANYWAY. BUT IT IS, AGAIN, IT'S NOT POLITICS, AS A PERSON WHO HAS PERSONAL PRIDE, HOW DO YOU DO IT? I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW. >> LINDSEY'S FIRST WORDS OF, HEY, Y'ALL. MY FIRST TWO WORDS IF SOMEBODY DID THAT TO ME WOULD BE MARKEDLY DIFFERENT. I DON'T THINK I'M OUTSIDE OF THE NORM HERE, LEMIRE. AGAIN, THIS IS SO BIZARRE. I WANT TO UNDERLINE, AGAIN, MITCH McCONNELL INSULTED REPEATEDLY, SAID THIS GUY TRIED TO BASICALLY DESTROY AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, HAS WATCHED HIS WIFE BE ATTACKED WITH RACIST CREEDS REPEATEDLY, AND SAYS, I ENDORSE HIM. >> IT IS CYNICAL AND BASED OUT OF FEAR OF TRUMP. McCONNELL, WHO IS STEPPING DOWN FROM LEADERSHIP, IS NOT RUNNING AGAIN, HE'D SEEM TO BE THE PERSON WHO DOESN'T HAVE TO DO THIS. >> EXACTLY. >> YES, HE DOES WANT REPUBLICANS TO HAVE THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE AGAIN EVEN IF HE'S NOT GOING TO BE THE LEADER THERE. >> BUT DONALD TRUMP TOOK THAT FROM THE HELM TWICE. >> YES, TWICE. >> HE WOULD HAVE BEEN SENATE MAJORITY LEADER OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, EXCEPT OVER ONE PERSON AND ONE PERSON ALONE. >> THE TWO MEN HAVEN'T SPOKEN IN YEARS, YET McCONNELL STILL BACKS THIS. HE DEFENDED IT BY SAYING YESTERDAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, FEBRUARY 2021, JUST DAYS AFTER THAT SPEECH, I SAID I'D BACK WHOEVER THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE WAS. >> WHY? >> BECAUSE HE'S PUTTING PARTY BEFORE COUNTRY. THAT'S WHAT HE IS DOING. THE PARTY BEFORE PERSONAL PRIDE, TOO. >> GEORGE, THAT'S AN OLD CUSTOM THAT I UNDERSTAND WHEN IT IS GEORGE H.W. BUSH, RONALD REAGAN, JOHN McCAIN, PICK YOUR -- MITT ROMNEY. >> BOB DOLE. >> GEORGE H.W. BUSH. >> RIGHT. >> STAKES AREN'T THAT HIGH. >> YOU SAID THIS IS A MAN WHO MAY FACE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION BECAUSE HE LED AN ATTEMPTED COUP AGAINST THE COUNTRY, SO CHANGE IT FOR THIS ONE CASE. >> IT'S NOT JUST THE NATION. IF HE CARED ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, HE WOULD HAVE SAID, WE HAVE TO GET RID OF TRUMP LONG AGO. EVEN IF HE WANTED TO
