MSNBC's Joe Scarborough reacted with laughter and disbelief on Friday to a clip of former President Donald Trump joking about his ability to ban fishing.
Trump made the remark to reporters at a White House dinner Thursday, shortly after signing two executive orders aimed at expanding hunting and fishing access on federal lands. He had been celebrating his actions as "undoing another Biden disaster" and addressed Johnny Morris, CEO of Bass Pro Shops, stating, "That means you can sell a lot of fishing rods, Johnny. You're gonna sell a lot of rods. They made it so you couldn't sell. You couldn't sell anything."
The former president then added, "I could've banned fishing. I'll tell you what, the power of this office is crazy."
Upon hearing the clip play on set, Scarborough erupted in laughter. "'I could've banned fishing!?'" he repeated, incredulously. "2026. What a ride!"
The show's producers then cut to a live feed of anglers in Pulaski, New York. Scarborough urged them to "Hurry up!" and "Catch as much as you can!" adding, "He could ban it any moment now, just for the hell of it. He thinks it's funny!"
Scarborough questioned the origin of the remark, asking, "Who writes his material?"
MSNBC National Affairs Analyst John Heilemann suggested the comment was improvised, noting, "Pretty sure that wasn't on the teleprompter." Co-host Jonathan Lemire also implied Trump generated the remark himself.
Scarborough framed Trump's statement as the former president proudly flaunting potential abuses of power. "The world's going to hell, and AI's about to end everything," he declared with exasperation.
Trump's quip appeared to be a lighthearted jab at the Democratic Party and the Biden administration's environmental policies. The Biden administration had implemented federal guidelines for conservation and environmental protections on public lands and waters.
Trump told attendees at the Thursday dinner, "America’s outdoorsmen have not had a better friend in the Oval Office for many, many years. Probably the late, great President Theodore Roosevelt was very good."