After repeatedly criticizing Hillary Clinton throughout the presidential election for her track record of giving paid speeches, President-elect Donald Trump is now considering a man for his Cabinet who made $16 million in one year alone off of paid speeches and consulting work. Morning Joe co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough were quick to point out the irony on Monday's show, citing The New York Times' report that former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani delivered 108 speeches in 11 countries in 2006. Notably, one of the groups Giuliani gave speeches to, an Iranian-opposition group called MEK, was considered a terrorist organization until Clinton became secretary of state.
"Is Donald Trump going to call Rudy Giuliani 'Crooked Rudy' now?" Scarborough asked, referencing Trump's nickname for Clinton. Maybe, seeing as how Trump "often seeks out" Scarborough for guidance, as The New York Times reports.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Since Trump's election, Giuliani has been a rumored contender for attorney general or secretary of state.
Watch the Morning Joe co-hosts ponder the Giuliani revelations below. Becca Stanek
-
Labor secretary’s husband barred amid assault probeSpeed Read Shawn DeRemer, the husband of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, has been accused of sexual assault
-
Trump touts pledges at 1st Board of Peace meetingSpeed Read At the inaugural meeting, the president announced nine countries have agreed to pledge a combined $7 billion for a Gaza relief package
-
Britain’s ex-Prince Andrew arrested over Epstein tiesSpeed Read The younger brother of King Charles III has not yet been charged
-
Labor secretary’s husband barred amid assault probe
Speed Read Shawn DeRemer, the husband of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, has been accused of sexual assault
-
Trump touts pledges at 1st Board of Peace meeting
Speed Read At the inaugural meeting, the president announced nine countries have agreed to pledge a combined $7 billion for a Gaza relief package
-
NIH director Bhattacharya tapped as acting CDC headSpeed Read Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of the CDC’s Covid-19 response, will now lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Pentagon spokesperson forced out as DHS’s resignsSpeed Read Senior military adviser Col. David Butler was fired by Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin is resigning
-
Judge orders Washington slavery exhibit restoredSpeed Read The Trump administration took down displays about slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia
-
Hyatt chair joins growing list of Epstein files losersSpeed Read Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation over his ties with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
