NBC News anchor Chuck Todd expressed strong disapproval of the Hispanic supporters who greeted former President Donald Trump at a Miami restaurant following his court appearance on Tuesday. He characterized their show of support as a "perversion."
Following his not-guilty plea to 37 felony counts related to classified documents, Trump visited Versailles, a well-known Cuban restaurant in Miami. There, he interacted with supporters and religious leaders who prayed for him and sang "Happy Birthday" in anticipation of his upcoming birthday. This enthusiastic reception drew sharp criticism from Todd.
During NBC News' live coverage, Todd expressed astonishment at the scene outside the café, calling it "surreal" and unprecedented in the United States. He compared the gathering to the support shown to allegedly corrupt political figures in some Central and South American countries who are facing legal challenges.
Todd appeared particularly troubled by the fact that some individuals who had sought refuge from communist regimes were now rallying behind Trump. He described a segment of "very conservative MAGA Hispanics" who seemed to find common ground between the perceived injustices in the U.S. and those in Cuba and Venezuela. He saw Trump attempting to align himself with this segment of the exile community.
Todd considered this support a "real perversion" of the values the exile community historically represented, contrasting the U.S.'s traditional role as a safe haven with the current situation. He described the moment as "bizarre" and predicted it would take years to fully comprehend.
Other news outlets also reacted strongly to Trump's interactions with supporters. CNN anchor Jake Tapper criticized Trump for turning the court appearance into a "spectacle" and instructed his production team to stop showing footage of the event. Later, both CNN and MSNBC declined to broadcast Trump's speech to supporters.
