'He figured that out': Ex-Dem lawmaker shows how she thinks Trump 'knows our country'

Hours after Donald Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election, the panel of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" was picking through the wreckage of the Democrats' stunning loss and regular contributor ex-Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) suggested the former president has distilled what works with the current crop of voters.

Speaking with co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, McCaskill admitted, "First, I think we have to acknowledge that Donald Trump knows our country better than we do"

"I think he figured out that anger and, frankly, fear were way more powerful than appealing to people's better angels," she continued. "Anger and fear were going to work in this election. Whether you're afraid of immigrants or afraid of people who are trans, he figured that out. And I think we all thought everyone's better angels would prevail. Turns out the angels went on vacation since Donald Trump came down the escalator and they haven't returned."

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"By the way, his persecution; majority of America believes he was persecuted not prosecuted," she added. "And there is no question that our grip on 'Hey, we got to make those same rules apply to every American, no matter who you are' –– turns out that's not true. America believed, majority of Americans believed he was a victim in those prosecutions."

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