Scarborough says GOP closing message ‘out of touch,’ slams Trump’s California comments

MS NOW host Joe Scarborough on Monday slammed Republicans’ closing message for the midterms.

“I’ve got to say, across the country, you’ve got gas prices at record highs, you’ve got diesel prices at record highs. Just telling people, ‘Hey, don’t worry about it. This is just short-term pain. Don’t worry about it. It’s worth it, it’s worth it. You know, by the way, if they do get nukes, let them annihilate Los Angeles and San Diego. But it’s worth it,’” Scarborough said on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe,” referencing a comment from President Trump at a rally where he suggested Iran could “take out” two major U.S. cities in California.

“I don’t know that that’s a good closing message for a Republican Party that is faring worse in polls,” he said, citing a Gallup poll which he said showed the GOP 11 points behind Democrats.

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The talk show host then pointed to Dr. Mehmet Oz’s recent Fox News appearance, where the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) suggested the price of butter was only $1.

Scarborough later added that “we’re seeing exactly how out of touch” Republicans “are in this final run.”

Republicans are facing an uphill battle as they head into the midterms this year, grappling with issues like the unpopular war in Iran, Trump’s slumping approval rating and concerns about the cost of living.

Energy costs have risen amid the war in Iran, with the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for the oil industry, closed amid the conflict. According to AAA , the average price of a gallon of regular gas in the U.S. was about $4.37 on Tuesday afternoon and the average price of a gallon of diesel was about $6.32.

On Monday, Trump made a comment suggesting Iran could “take out” two large cities in California if the Middle Eastern country made a nuclear weapon. The president’s comment came during remarks at a political rally in Grand Island, Neb., where he defended the war against Iran despite increased prices for American consumers.

“It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, for keeping our country safe,” Trump said, adding that Iran could “take out a city.”

“Let ‘em take out Los Angeles, let ‘em take out San Diego,” he continued. “This is a very small price to pay, and it’s going to be over with very soon.”

When reached for comment, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement that “no one can dispute the fact that President Trump has created one of the most robust coalitions in political history with the MAGA movement, and the President understands how to communicate with them.”