White House ‘in smear threat to TV couple’

Morning Joe TV hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, a couple on-screen and off, say the White House told them a damaging National Enquirer story about their relationship would “go away” if they called the president and apologised for harsh commentary.

President Donald Trump and Mr Scarborough each traded accusations that the other was lying.

The MSNBC hosts made their claim while responding to Mr Trump’s previous tweet that “crazy” Ms Brzezinski was “bleeding badly from a face-lift” when he saw her at his Florida estate just before the New Year. Thursday’s message on social media drew widespread condemnation as sexist and vulgar.

Ms Brzezinski and Mr Scarborough revealed their engagement in a May Vanity Fair article.