The day after Donald Trump became the 45th president of the United States, NBC News stoked fears for the next four years by hyping protests from around the world and portrayed Russia as the only country celebrating. “Protests not only taking place here in the United States but around the world as well, from Tokyo to Berlin to Manila, and London as well,” announced co-anchor Craig Melvin on Today, leading into a ridiculous report by chief global correspondent Bill Neely.
“Certainly the Kremlin isn’t sad to see Mr. Obama go,” he sneered while declaring that Russians were the only ones in the world celebrating his victory, “Beyond Russia though, a world of anxiety even fear about what he means, but in Moscow a party.”
“Russian celebrations for Donald Trump as US president welcomed here as never before,” he proclaimed as he played video from a bar where a man was singing that Trump was “Superman.” After interviewing a few Russians Neely concluded that they are looking forward to better relations with the US, smearing, “Many see him as a gift to Russia.”
UNIDENTIFIED RUSSIAN MAN: It will good for both America and Russia.
UNIDENTIFIED RUSSIA WOMAN 1: In Russia, know that we respect him.
UNIDENTIFIED RUSSIA WOMAN 2: This relationship will be more friendly.
The NBC reporter sat down with Sergie Markov, a former Russian lawmaker, who told him, “It looks like Christmas gift with very beautiful package and we don’t know what is inside.”
Neely warned that Trump’s “America first” policy set forth in his inaugural address “has caused global alarm.” “Chinese state media saying, ‘Prepare for the worst,’” he cautioned as he proceeded to tout a world in revolt:
Protests against Trump in Germany, where leaders are warning of a rough ride ahead. In Australia this morning, tens of thousands of woman marched against Trump. And in the Middle East, divided opinions. Meanwhile, in North Korea, preparations for a new long-range missile test appear to be underway. The global challenges have begun for President Trump.
Closing out his report, Neely quipped that Putin would call Trump soon and noted: “That relationship will be watched, perhaps, more closely than any other.”