Ex-MSNBC Host Says Trump Has Pulse Of American People: ‘Biden Couldn’t Do That In A Million Years’

Former MSNBC host Chris Matthews conceded during a recent interview that the American people were “moving towards” President Donald Trump — and attributed that to Trump’s uncanny ability to gauge the mood of the people in real time.

Matthews made the comments during an interview with longtime PBS broadcaster Charlie Rose (who was let go by the network in 2017 amid allegations of sexual misconduct), and he compared Trump’s staying power with the “charisma” of others like former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

“To be honest with you, the country is moving towards Trump. These polls, they come out and show him not doing well — I don’t buy that,” Matthews said. “He is a stronger public figure than the Democratic people.”

Matthews went on to reference Obama — who still has the ability to draw a crowd — and argued that it was not enough to match what Trump brought to the table.

“Obama still has tremendous charisma — but Trump has strength,” he added. “[Voters] want a president who is a strong figure. And he’s got it. It’s just there. And half the country buys it.”

WATCH:

🚨NEW: Chris Matthews *DOESN’T BELIEVE* negative TRUMP polls🚨

“To be honest with you, the country is moving towards Trump. These polls, they come out and show him not doing well — I don’t buy that.”

“He is a stronger public figure than the Democratic people.”

“Obama still… pic.twitter.com/twYsmDnD1P

— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) July 26, 2025

But Matthews didn’t stop there — instead, he went on to explain what he thought was really giving Trump the edge: his apparent ability to read the room and get his finger on the pulse of the people.

“We have never had a president so instantly spontaneous that he knows this minute — at 4:00 this afternoon, he will say, ‘You know, that’s not really true anymore,'” Matthews explained. “He will know the mood of the country.”

WATCH:

🚨NEW: Chris Matthews *PRAISES* Trump’s political skill🚨

“We have never had a president so instantly spontaneous that he knows this minute — at 4:00 this afternoon, he will say, ‘You know, that’s not really true anymore.'”

“He will know the mood of the country.”

“He’s very… pic.twitter.com/2X4KU2193T

— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) July 26, 2025

“He’s very good at knowing your condition, your worries, your insecurities,” he continued, saying that Trump was like the kid in grade school who understood where everyone’s weaknesses were. “He’s really good at the moment. He’s out there watching television and keeping up. And ‘Is this the right thing to do? What are we going to do right now?'”

“Biden couldn’t do that in a million years, not in a million years. Mondale couldn’t do that,” he admitted. “They don’t have the connection to the electricity of what’s going on in the country culturally. And he knows what works.”