MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, a frequent critic of President Trump, on Thursday praised the president’s speech commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Normandy invasion as “the most powerful” of his presidency.
Trump’s remarks were “the most powerful speech that he’s given as president of the United States, from certainly the most moving setting,” Scarborough said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
{mosads}The remarks, in which Trump praised U.S. allies such as France and Britain for their role in the D-Day operation, “had to be reassuring” to the nations despite frequent verbal barbs between their leaders and Trump during his presidency, Scarborough added.
Scarborough compared Trump’s remarks to former President Reagan’s well-received speech commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Normandy invasion.
Trump’s speech “measured up to the moment and really was a true salute to the unity of this day,” co-host Mika Brzezinski, another frequent critic and Trump target, added.
Scarborough was not the only media figure who has frequent clashes with the president to offer praise for the speech Thursday morning.
CNN’s Jim Acosta said Trump “stayed on-script, stayed on-message and I think rose to the moment.”
Trump offered praise to the veterans who made the trip for the anniversary, calling them “among the greatest Americans who will ever live.”
“To more than 170 veterans of the Second World War who join us today, you are among the very greatest Americans who will ever live,” Trump said in his remarks. “You are the pride of our nation. You are the glory of our republic, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
French President Emanuel Macron, speaking before Trump, praised the participants in the invasion and American involvement in the war.
“We know what we owe to you veterans: our freedom,” Macron said. “On behalf of my nation, I just want to say thank you.”