Former MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews offered unexpected praise for President Donald Trump during an interview with Charlie Rose on Saturday, calling Trump a uniquely skilled political figure with an unmatched cultural connection to the American public.
“He’s incredibly in tune with people’s concerns, insecurities, and the cultural mood,” Matthews said during the latest episode of A Charlie Rose Global Conversation. “He’d be the most intimidating kid in a Catholic grade school — he knows everyone’s weakness. That’s how sharp he is when it comes to reading the moment.”
“He Knows What Works”
Matthews, who hosted Hardball with Chris Matthews for over two decades, said Trump’s ability to instantly sense the national mood sets him apart from other political figures — including Democrats like President Biden and the late Walter Mondale.
“Biden couldn’t do what Trump does in a million years,” Matthews said. “They just don’t have that cultural electricity. Trump knows what works — he gets it.”
Trump’s Political Strength Surpasses Democrats, Matthews Says
When asked to assess Trump as a political figure, Matthews said the president’s strength remains unmatched by any current Democratic rival.
“He’s a stronger public figure than the Democratic people,” Matthews told Rose. “Obama still has charisma, but Trump has strength. And that’s what voters want. Half the country sees it and buys it.”
Dismisses Negative Polling: ‘The Country Is Moving Toward Trump’
Matthews also rejected polling data suggesting Trump is losing support.
“To be honest with you, the country is moving toward Trump,” he said. “These polls that show him slipping? I don’t believe them.”
He recalled a conversation with Trump about movies as an example of how quickly the president processes cultural trends: “He said ‘Zoolander 1’ had great timing, but ‘Zoolander 2’ didn’t work. He’s that instant. That aware.”
Earlier Praise for Trump’s Stance on Elites
This isn’t the first time Matthews has surprised critics by recognizing aspects of Trump’s presidency. Back in April, during an appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, he said the Trump administration was right to challenge elite universities like Harvard over how they handled anti-Israel campus protests.
“Elite universities are taking a beating right now,” he said at the time. “And it’s probably a smart move.”
He criticized schools for allowing protests that disrupted student learning, saying institutions shouldn’t need to be told to protect students’ right to attend class — “Jewish or not.”
Matthews concluded that Trump’s instincts often lead him to strike where the American public already feels discontent: “Sometimes, the administration sets its targets in the right direction.”
