Trump Pardons Over 1,500 Jan. 6 Rioters on First Day in Office

MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' hosts clash with guest over the political and cultural implications of the controversial move.

President Donald Trump fulfilled a campaign promise by pardoning over 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol riot and commuting 14 additional sentences on his first day in office.
The decision, signed shortly after his inauguration, has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and sparked debate across political and media circles.
On MSNBC's 'Morning Joe,' co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough had a heated exchange with guest Donny Deutsch, who argued that Trump has 'co-opted America’s heartbeat' with this action.
Brzezinski criticized the optics of Trump standing with families of Israeli hostages while referring to the Capitol rioters as 'hostages' during the announcement.
Scarborough compared Trump’s actions to those of a Roman emperor, accusing him of breaking political norms while maintaining public support through populist appeals.