Trump meets with 'Morning Joe' co-hosts for the first time in seven years.

Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, two of Donald Trump's most vocal critics in the media, met with the president-elect last week and discussed their differences, according to MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

"Zbigniew Brzezinski often spoke with world leaders with whom he and the United States disagreed, according to him. This is a responsibility shared by reporters and commentators."

Scarborough stated that it was the first time in seven years they had seen Trump, and Brzezinski added that they didn't agree on many issues. They discussed topics such as abortion, mass deportation, and threats of retribution against political opponents and media outlets.

The show portrayed Trump as upbeat during the meeting and showed him actively seeking to agree with Democrats on significant matters. Trump emerged victorious in the election on November 5th, winning decisively against Vice President Kamala Harris in key swing states and also securing the first popular vote victory for a Republican in over two decades.

Brzezinski paused before addressing the viewers who might be shocked that they had agreed to interview Trump, whom they had consistently characterized as a danger to democracy.

Why wouldn't we speak to the president-elect during such a divisive time, especially given our differences?" she asked. "Five years of political conflict has left Washington and the country deeply divided. We have made it clear that we are concerned about President Trump's actions and words, which have contributed to the coarsening of public discourse.

Nearly 80 million Americans prioritized issues over election denialism, public trials, and January 6th, resulting in Donald Trump's re-election. Joe and I recognize the need for a change in our approach, which includes not only discussing Donald Trump but also engaging with him.

Notably, the defensive tone of "Morning Joe" regarding speaking to Trump was evident, despite their earlier opposition to NBC's hiring of Trump ally Ronna McDaniel as a paid analyst. The show and other MSNBC personalities had publicly criticized McDaniel's appearance on their airwaves, and her contract was terminated after just a week.

Brzezinski predicted that Trump's presidency would be consequential, but it remains to be seen if it will be constructive. She criticized Trump for attacking political opponents and pointed out that impeachments and trials often make politicians into martyrs.

"Just ask Bill Clinton and Donald Trump," she said.

Trump can't run for another term, which presents an opportunity for both parties to cooperate, according to Scarborough, who said top Democrats had expressed a willingness to collaborate with Trump if the feeling was reciprocated.

"Scarborough clarified that their purpose was not to defend or normalize Donald Trump, but to report on him and offer insights to help people better comprehend the current unsettling times."

Some of their fellow MSNBC hosts and liberal media colleagues might not be happy with that.

Brzezinski disclosed Monday that Scarborough had contacted Trump the day after the assassination attempt against him in July, but they had not spoken since 2020. MSNBC had taken "Morning Joe" off the air following the shooting in a contentious decision at the time.

In the 2016 election cycle, Scarborough and Brzezinski, a married couple, were known for their early support of Trump's political prospects. However, they faced criticism for frequently inviting and interviewing the future president. After Trump's election, they became among his most vocal critics, with Trump sometimes launching personal attacks against the pair.

In 2017, Trump's former Florida U.S. congressman, Scarborough, left the Republican Party due to their ideological differences.