Scarborough scolds Nats fans for ‘lock him up’ chant: ‘We are Americans and we do not do that’

MSNBC “Morning Joe” co-host Joe Scarborough said it was “un-American” for the crowd to chant “lock him up” at President Trump when he was shown at Nationals Park during Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night in Washington, D.C.

“It’s un-American,” Scarborough said Monday morning of the chant, which originated as a chant against Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. “It started with Donald Trump. In fact, he’s made it a centerpiece of his campaign rallies.”

Co-host Mika Brzezinski interjected that she finds it “sickening” when Trump supporters use the chant “lock her up.”

{mosads}“Of course it’s sickening,” Scarborough agreed. “We are Americans and we do not do that. We do not want the world hearing us chant ‘lock him up’ to this president or to any president.”

Scarborough concluded he hopes “as we move forward, maybe this is one less fascist tactic [Trump] and his supporters use.”

“We are Americans and we do not do that. We do not want the world hearing us chant ‘Lock him up’ to this president or to any president.” — @JoeNBC pic.twitter.com/9IgMCETBdn

— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) October 28, 2019

I disagree with you vehemently, @JoeNBC. The world NEEDS to hear us chant “Lock him up” to this particular president.

— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) October 28, 2019

I thought you were done enabling the criminal? Or are you gearing up for more subtle normalization in 2020?

— Greg Olear (@gregolear) October 28, 2019

Every time I think you two have seen the light…you prove me wrong.

— Max Weiss (@maxthegirl) October 28, 2019

Scarborough took to Twitter after the segment aired to defend himself against his critics.

“So let’s see if I’ve got this straight: When crowds chant ‘Lock her up” toward Hillary, it is illiberal and anti-American. (I agree). But when crowds chant the same toward Trump, it is suddenly a fulsome exercise of sacred First Amendment rights. What hypocritical clowns,” he tweeted.

He added that those who “think that democracy is strengthened by calling for the arrest of political opponents” are as “ignorant and illiberal” as the president himself.

“Delete your account and read some civics,” Scarborough fired back. “Stop embarrassing yourself.”

If you think that democracy is strengthened by calling for the arrest of political opponents, you’re as ignorant and illiberal as Trump himself. Delete your account and read some civics. 
Stop embarrassing yourself.

— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) October 28, 2019

The perspective from Scarborough, a former GOP congressman who frequently tangles with Trump, comes after the crowd booed and chanted “lock him up” when the president appeared on the scoreboard at Nationals Park Sunday night in Game 5 of the World Series between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals.

And then a brief smattering of “LOCK HIM UP!” after Pres Trump was introduce at Game 5 of the #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/I7r2KAFqrx

— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) October 27, 2019

Demonstrators also unfurled “Veterans for Impeachment” banners behind home plate. 

–This report was updated at 2:00 p.m.