Nicolle Wallace reveals what may finally convince Trump to 'back away from the people'

23 May 2025

MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace and Media Matters for America president Angelo Carusone on May 23, 2025 (Image: Screengrab via MSNBC / YouTube)

Throughout the first few months of President Donald Trump's second term in the White House, he has followed through on threats to use the power of his office to pursue his political enemies. But MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace pointed out one potential solution that could stop Trump in his tracks.

During the Friday episode of her show "Deadline: White House," Wallace interviewed Media Matters for America (MMFA) president Angelo Carusone about the Trump administration's new investigation into his organization — which happens to be one of the loudest critics of X owner (and Trump donor) Elon Musk. That investigation, which is being conducted by the Federal Trade Commission, cites Musk's allegations that MMFA supposedly "colluded" to scare X advertisers into fleeing the platform by pointing out that their ads sometimes appeared next to pro-Nazi and other extremist content.

Carusone indicated that MMFA stood by its original reporting, and that his group planned to fight back against Trump using all available legal tools. And he observed that while he understood why other groups that found themselves in Trump's crosshairs chose to back down rather than fight, it was ultimately a counterproductive approach.

"There is a real culture of just being sort of halfway there ... not going too far outside the lines and sort of go along to get along, which I get if you are in the weaker position," Carusone said. "But history tells us otherwise, that it's not a safe space, actually, that it is a mistake, that there is no going along to get along."

Wallace agreed, and observed that there is plenty of historical precedent in which leaders who attempted to placate dangerous people in the past were still unable to prevent the worst from happening.

"There is no example in human history of appeasement working," said Wallace, who alluded to her previous role as the communications director in former President George W. Bush's White House. "I guess maybe that's the last morsel of Republicanism in my DNA. They only respond to strength."

"Trump will only back away from the people who respond with strength, whether they're scared or not, right? Fear is a natural reaction, as you just articulated and explained," she added. "But it doesn't work and it won't work."

Watch the segment below, or by clicking this link.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

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