Old clip shows MSNBC host discussing Trump, not Musk

MSNBC co-host Mika Brzezinski said in 2017 that in "trying to undermine the media," then-president Donald Trump could "control what people think." She did not mention billionaire Elon Musk, contrary to a resurgence of the false claim on social media.

"MUST WATCH: "(Elon) could actually control what people think. . . that is our job," says text in a March 2, 2024 Instagram post with more 78,000 likes.

The post includes a video of two television hosts that has been cropped to remove the chyron.

The claim first gained traction in April 2022 after Musk initiated an acquisition of Twitter, which he later rebranded as X.  The narrative has resurfaced as the SpaceX and Tesla co-founder juggles lawsuits related to his management of the social network, which has seen an acceleration of disinformation.

The footage shown in the Instagram post comes from a February 22, 2017 episode of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that addressed a poll on Americans' satisfaction with the federal government (archived here).

Brzezinski’s comments followed a discussion with guest Yamiche Alcindor and co-host Joe Scarborough on public perception of Trump's effectiveness in office, as many of his supporters felt the Republican was making good on his campaign promises.

There was no mention of Musk -- the full clip makes clear Brzezinski was discussing Trump.

Here are Scarborough and Brzezinski's full remarks, with the part shared online in bold:

Scarborough: "That is exactly what I hear. What Yamiche just said is what I hear from all the Trump supporters that I talk to, who were Trump voters, and are still Trump supporters. They go yeah you guys are going crazy, what are you so surprised about? He's doing exactly what he said he's going to do.

Brzezinski: "Well and I think that the dangerous edges here are that he’s trying to undermine the media, trying to make up his own facts and it could be that while unemployment and the economy worsens, he could have undermined the messaging so much that he can actually control exactly what people think and that is our job.”

Brzezinski addressed confusion about her comments in a February 22, 2017 post (archived here).

"Today I said it's the media's job to keep President Trump from making up his own facts, NOT that it's our job to control what people think," she said.

AFP has debunked other misinformation about US politics here.