### Joe Scarborough Criticizes Governor Youngkin for Downplaying Trump's Military Remarks

MSNBC anchor Joe Scarborough took Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to task on Tuesday for downplaying controversial comments made by former President Donald Trump. During a recent interview on Fox News, Trump suggested the use of the National Guard or military to address what he termed "the enemy from within," referring to "sick people, radical left lunatics." His remarks drew significant attention, particularly when he named Congressman Adam Schiff, who led Trump's first impeachment trial, as one of these "lunatics."

The day after Trump's interview, Governor Youngkin appeared on CNN, where he insisted that Trump's comments were not intended as they appeared. CNN's Jake Tapper challenged Youngkin's interpretation, growing visibly frustrated as the governor accused Tapper of misrepresenting Trump's words. "I'm literally reading his quotes," Tapper retorted, emphasizing that Trump's statements were being taken at face value.

On "Morning Joe," Scarborough aired parts of this contentious exchange, offering his own critical perspective. He noted that while Trump's suggestion was alarming in itself, the real concern was the context—it was a blatant example of using military power against political opponents, akin to tactics from a "fascist playbook."

Scarborough criticized Trump supporters and apologists who, despite their misgivings about him, downplay his actions and narratives. He referenced significant incidents such as the January 6 Capitol riot and Trump's public and private pressures on his attorney general to arrest political adversaries like Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.

Further questioning the motivations behind these defenses, Scarborough specifically targeted Youngkin, asking what the governor stood to gain from defending such remarks. "What's in it for Glenn Youngkin?" Scarborough pondered aloud, extending the question to other Republicans who have continued to support Trump over the past nine years.

Concluding his critique, Scarborough remarked on the broader implications, noting that Youngkin's defense aligned with a broader Republican trend of supporting Trump's aggressive political tactics. "Glenn Youngkin is defending the use of the Army and the National Guard against Democrats, against Donald Trump's political opponents. That's the state of America and the Republican Party," Scarborough stated, underlining the gravity of the upcoming election.