Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC's Morning Joe, alleged on his May 27, 2026 broadcast that former President Donald Trump called him during a 2020 Iran crisis to seek advice on avoiding military conflict. Scarborough stated Trump was 'frantic' and asked if he should strike Iran, with Scarborough urging restraint.
Scarborough claimed the call occurred after the U.S. killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in January 2020, when Iran retaliated with missile strikes on Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops. No independent sources have confirmed the call, and Trump has not commented.
The anecdote, shared amid Scarborough's ongoing criticism of Trump, highlights the tense period when the U.S. and Iran nearly escalated to war. Fact-checkers note Scarborough has made similar claims before, but no recordings or transcripts exist.
