Fact Check: Was Joe Scarborough suspended by MS NOW for mocking Lindsey Graham's death?
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Following the death of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a rumor began circulating on social media claiming that MS Now had suspended television host and former senator Joe Scarborough for allegedly mocking the Trump ally’s death.
The claim has sparked widespread discussion online, prompting a fact check.
Claim: MS Now fired Joe Scarborough for mocking Lindsey Graham's death
According to the rumor, Joe Scarborough made posts on Facebook, Instagram, and X mocking the death of Senator Graham by sharing an image of him sticking out his tongue and saying he was "finally in hell where he belongs."
The rumor also claims that Scarborough was suspended by his network, called MS Now, and that his show, Morning Joe, was canceled for the week.
The post criticizes Scarborough's past comments and accuses him of hypocrisy, bias, and celebrating the death of a political opponent.
The claim has spread widely across Facebook and X, garnering hundreds of thousands of views. While many appear to believe it, others have questioned its authenticity, prompting a fact check.
Fact Check: Joe Scarborough made no such post against Lindsey Graham
The claim, however, is false. There are no publicly available reports indicating that MS Now suspended Scarborough for mocking the death of one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies.
There have also been no official statements, press releases, or announcements from the network regarding any such suspension. A review of Scarborough’s official social media accounts, including Facebook, X, and Instagram, found no posts about the late senator.
A Google search also yielded no credible reports from major news outlets. Had the claim been true, it would likely have received widespread media coverage.
One of the posts amplifying the claim included a photo of Scarborough and Graham with the disclaimer, “Nothing on this page is real,” indicating that the post was intended as parody.
Darline Graham Nordone tapped for Senate seat
Graham's only surviving sibling, Darline Graham Nordone, is expected to serve as the interim senator and complete the remainder of her brother's term.
The move comes after President Donald Trump endorsed Darline for the role and urged the South Carolina governor to appoint her as the temporary replacement until a general election is held.
The development comes just days before Republicans are expected to begin the filing process for a special primary to select the party's nominee for the November election.
