Lawrence O’Donnell, host on MSNBC, criticized President Donald Trump’s second term on July 8, 2025, labeling it the stupidest presidency in U.S. history. He also remarked on the inadequacy of the White House press corps reporting on it.
O’Donnell voiced his observations on “The Last Word” following a Cabinet meeting led by Trump earlier in the day. Known for his long-standing critiques of Trump, O’Donnell had previously taken a break from his show in March, expressing that he was exhausted at Day 52 of covering the presidency.
During his commentary, O’Donnell likened Trump’s presidency to a TV script. He suggested that a fictional unintelligent president would depend on capable staff and avoid the press to prevent exposure of his shortcomings.
However, O’Donnell indicated that this scenario does not reflect reality. He criticized both Trump’s presidency and the competency of the press corps, suggesting that the latter’s failures prevent them from adequately addressing Trump’s actions.
O’Donnell highlighted an interaction during the Cabinet meeting when CNN’s Kaitlan Collins questioned Trump about who authorized the suspension of military aid to Ukraine. Trump’s response was, “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”
He noted that previous presidents would not dismiss important inquiries in such a manner. O’Donnell accused Trump of overpowering White House reporters, leading them to accept his vague responses without challenge.
O’Donnell further criticized reporters supporting Trump within the White House press corps, arguing that these individuals undermine the corps’ integrity.
His remarks occur amid increasing tensions between Trump’s administration and various news organizations. The White House has threatened to withdraw federal funding from NPR and PBS, barred Associated Press reporters from events, and assumed control over the media pool usually managed by news groups.
A significant dispute involves the Associated Press’s refusal to adopt Trump’s renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The AP continues to reference it as the Gulf of Mexico while noting Trump’s order.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the exclusion of AP reporters, stating that White House access is a privilege and media spreading falsehoods will face repercussions. She asserted it is a fact that the body of water is named the Gulf of America.
The Associated Press has filed a lawsuit against the government, arguing that these restrictions infringe on First Amendment rights. AP Executive Editor Julie Pace accused the White House of penalizing the organization for its editorial stance, contrary to constitutional protections.
Trump has also targeted public broadcasting by proposing funding cuts for NPR and PBS. The administration claims these entities utilize taxpayer resources to spread radical, left-leaning narratives under the guise of news, urging federal departments to cease funding.
Congress has already allocated $535 million for public broadcasting for the current year, with funds secured through September 2027. In June, the House approved Trump’s proposal to cut $1.1 billion in public broadcasting funding over two years, pending Senate approval.
PBS President Paula Kerger declared Trump’s order unlawful, arguing that Congress designed public broadcasting to operate independently from presidential influence. NPR CEO Katherine Maher stated that the proposed funding reductions would breach federal law and the First Amendment.
Additionally, the administration has taken other measures against media outlets, such as expelling eight organizations from Pentagon offices and Trump’s lawsuit against CBS News regarding edits in a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris.
Concurrently, the White House has granted access to pro-Trump outlets like the Epoch Times and One America News. Officials claim this approach incorporates diverse voices, but critics argue it rewards favorable coverage and penalizes critical journalism.
Trump asserted that the Associated Press has been incorrect about the 2020 election and unfair to him and his party, indicating that restrictions will continue until media outlets comply with his terms.
O’Donnell has consistently criticized Trump, albeit sometimes requiring corrections or apologies for his statements.
The White House Correspondents Association condemned the administration’s actions against the Associated Press, asserting that the government cannot dictate story coverage or penalize journalists for editorial decisions.
Press freedom organizations have denounced the administration’s tactics. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression argued that penalizing journalists for not using government-approved language threatens press freedom and contravenes the Constitution.
The ongoing disputes underscore significant questions regarding government authority and press autonomy during Trump’s second term. O’Donnell’s critiques of both the administration and the press corps reflect broader concerns about the evolving landscape of political journalism under heightened governmental pressure.
