wild reviews. let's play "hardball." good evening, i'm chris matthews. the tale of two presidents. yesterday, donald trump issued a free-flowing rant against the media and detractors. today, the president gave a disciplined 15-minute campaign-style speech at the boeing plant in south carolina. >> i have to say, i love south carolina. i love it. remember, we came down all together, we came down and this was going to be a place that was

tough to win and we won in a landslide. this was a good one. as your president, i'm going to do everything i can to unleash the power of the american spirit and to put our great people back to work. this is our mantra, buy american and hire american. we are going fight for every last american job. already, american industry is roaring back. believe me, if we, not me, i'm a messenger, if we didn't have this victory, we wouldn't be even talking ant it. >> about that performance yesterday, the reviews are in now. at least according to president trump, it was a huge hit. he tweeted to his 25 million follower, thank you for all the nice statements on the press conference yesterday. rush limbaugh said one of the greatest ever, fake media, not happy. the media gushed about the performance. let's watch.

>> there was an effective way to sum up what his message was yesterday. he did a fantastic job. >> he is a brilliant communique tor, natural connector with people. >> unbelievable. i want to carry trump on the shelf. this was one of the most effective press conferences i have ever seen. >> donald trump was in his element. it was awesome to watch. >> all i can say is wow. we saw an historic beatdown of the propaganda media. they had it coming. >> so many people loved donald trump's press conference because it was wide ranging. how often is he going to do that? a lot of people say it really helped him. >> here are the reviews in the newspaper. this jointed and emotional. "washington post," erratic. usa today, rambling, defensive and at times angry. the wall street journal, grievances. wildest show on earth, ring

mather don epic rant. i'm joined business heidi. first, let's try to do this. wa wha's going on with the positive reviews? i have tried to keep an open mind about him. i am not conclusive. when is it going to turn, is it more reasonable? yesterday, there's no way of seeing it as a positive event. >> both thing ks be true, when talking about a narrow sliver of the population in terms of his base. it is true, they enjoy watching our industry, 33-something per cent. >> the gallup poll before the election was 35-38. it's the same now. the same people that like him liked him before the election and they won. >> fine. they can be entertained by that. it can also be true that the

category of everybody else can view it as a failure. looking at the same polls, chris, what's happening, not just the approval rating being low, but the disaplooufl rating. that's a big number. it's 59%, three times of the last three presidents. >> a couple days before the election, over 60. he's just about where he was, i think. we agree. he's about where he was before the election, right? >> but he's president now of all the people, not just running. >> he hasn't changed any minds, that's what i think. >> he also hasn't changed himself. >> that's why he hasn't changed any minds. >> there's something about what's happening here. we are debating whether it plays well. what is happening is a systematic undermining. >> you don't like the way we started the show. friendsment need ya, fair enough. then we show what the main street press is saying. what's wrong with that? >> that is illustrative.

>> we're on the same page. >> the media should be a self-interested institution. we should be for the freedom of the press. we should all collectively -- >> who is not for that? >> when the fox news hosts praise him for bashing the media. in 2009-2010 -- collectively, the other white house correspondent said this is not going to fly. we are going to stand with fox news and they stopped it. that was a good form of collective action from the media. what we are seeing now is a fraction of the meeds media. >> well said. it doesn't surprise me that rush limbaugh is -- or fox is on a different cultural base than the rest. i notice every time trump takes a shot at cnn, which he likes to do, everybody in the media laughs. there's an audience of peanut

gallery that may include reporters, that is damming. they laugh at a guy that got his shut up. >> of course. this has been a problem from the beginning. trump uses the -- i covered the trump campaign. he used journalists as a prop for campaigning. >> what about sam's point? >> i think it's true. it was true in the press conference before he got sworn in. he got out there. he bashed cnn and buzz feed. then set the tone and made the whole thing about the good journalists and bad journalists. >> he called on a guy in the back, then our friend april. how about a good question, a friendly question. >> he tries to flatter journalists that he wants them to like him and treat him well and the ones that don't, he attacks. >> it's an obvious strategy.

after the performance, he goes on twitter -- >> good cue. president trump tweeted late this afternoon, another attack on the media. >> quote, the fake news media. nbc news, it's not failing. nbc, cbs, cnn is not my enemy. it's the enemy of the american people. that's what he said. he's tweeting again. >> one of the most telling parts of that news conference, to me, was what most didn't notice, him saying the public, they don't know what's going on. only i know what's going on. it's part of this calculated campaign to discredit the media. it reminded me of the jungle book movie where the snam says to the man cub, trust in me, just in me. that song started going through my head. it's hart of discrediting the media, you can't trust these people. >> i think the media, let's go with "the new york times,"

really stuck their neck out. a hot story between the communication of the trump people and russia. i believe they have it. they have a lot of context. they are not making anything up. straight journalism. trump is bet thag story is going have legs, it's going to keep going. that's his fear. if it doesn't, it dyes in a couple days, who cares. he's going against it. he is worried it is his creditability against the times and other journalists. >> if he can do it now, while they are just getting started in this story, at least among his base, he knows he can protect himself from too big of a backlash. i think the problem, though, to go back to your earlier point -- >> they were on record about the sanctions. >> they had campaign contacts, saying he didn't direct flynn to have these conversations. some of these things, they can go back. we are at the beginning of our discovery in the investigations.

>> i agree with one point. the times has a lot on this. they better be right. they can't drop the story and move on. there's something here. sam? it's a real story. >> this is -- or else it's not. >> it's definitely a real story. the question is, is trump thinking long term? >> this is the problem. >> what's in the news at the moment? does he have the ability to distinguish between the two? they can discredit the news media. he that has power of congress. they are not going to oversight. he's discredited the courts. >> in six months, there will be a new york times. if he keeps it up, their circulation is going to be stronger. the progressives are really paying attention now. >> as much as this has been a calculated campaign over the course of his presidency and his campaign, i don't know that this was completely calculated. his aides said they were surprised. so, i think part is a personal,

deep personal need he has. >> you are laughing. i heard years ago, his counsel sid if you want to get something off your chest, get it off. stop. >> he kept going on. >> sean spicer does not do the job, he, himself, could do. >> he tweets -- >> he sits there and watches the briefing, this is how i should have reacted. >> this is how you should have defended me. >> he goes through various task forces, that is routine. it's a way all liberals say we are doing a lot of that. we have a task force on that. >> it's a joke. >> what do you think? why did he have a good day today? >> because i think he got it off his chest. he ranted for a while yesterday, then he went down and gave a speech. >> they were all there at the

airplane, a great picture. >> when he gets out of washington, in front of crowds who like him, he does much, much better. i think, again, that's why he's going to get on the road as much as possible. >> thank you. up next, reaction from republican members of congress to president trump's wild news conference this week. a lot of them seem to be pleading ignorance or running away fast. this is "hardball," where the action is. they're experts in things you haven't heard of - researchers of technologies that one day, you will. some call them the best of the best. some call them veterans. we call them our team. whenand now with victoza®etes, there's a moment of truth. a better moment of proof.

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we're back. there was mixed reaction for members of congress after president trump's press conference yesterday. casey hunt said they didn't watch the press conference and moved on. democrats delighted in the spectacle that took place yesterday. let's watch the difference.

>> what is one word for the president's press conference today? >> i didn't get to see it. >> one word reaction? >> terrifying. >> sir? >> unfocused. >> i didn't see the press conference, i'm sorry. >> nonending. >> i was in a committee hearing. >> i didn't watch it. >> unbelievable. >> i didn't see it today. i have been in committee hearings all day. >> embarrassing. >> i dnlt get to watch it, yet. >> i was in a hearing. >> one word to the press conference? >> prayer. >> i heard it's entertaining. >> can i bother you briefly for a one word reaction to the president. >> i have been in the chair to hours, sorry. >> growth and tax reform, getting the economy going is more than one word. >> let's bring in "hardball" round table after that. david, the washington bureau chief for mother jones and ryan, a republican strategist. you first, ryan. why is there a deferential why

some had their tvs on and others didn't watch. >> if you don't have anything good to say, don't say it at all. >> were they fibbing when they said they weren't watching? >> i'm not going to speak for them. those who saw it, it was certainly a unique performance. it was entertaining. most people got a few laughs out of it. >> i think it was howard beale. i think he let everything off his chis. i can't take it anymore. >> i was at the press conference, sitting directly behind april, actually. he clearly targeted the reporters sitting in the front row that represented the networks. he knew who every single one was and he wanted to take them down and their networks one by one and undermine the reporting on his administration saying this is a fine-tuned machine. i'm going rattle off the great things we have been doing.

you are wrong, i'm right. >> there's nothing he said yesterday that is memorable. they are all task forces. people in government have been doing it for years. >> he promised within 100 days, jobs in america and we would be great again. >> how many people work for the task forces? they are the jobs. >> we haven't stacked up as much as the government. he shows what we all know about him, unhinged, erratic, thin skinned. i thought peter alexander's change with him was one of the best. >> explain. >> you said it a million times you have the greatest electoral college victory of all times, it's historic. actually, it's 28, whatever the number is. oh tharks's what people tell me. this is, i mean, it would be funny if he was a candidate. he is in charge of our foreign policy and our nuclear weapons

arsenal and he cannot come to terms with simple facts. >> he may have made a mistake. >> it's not about how it plays well or not. there's substance and truth to it. do republicans believe a guy that flies off the handle should have this control. >> he does have this control. >> you are not his audience. rush limbaugh is his audience and the people who listen to rush limbaugh are his audience and clearly it played well with them thachlt is who he is trying to target. over the weekend, he's having a rally over the weekend. that's the people he's speaking to as well. >> the minority of america -- >> minority voted for him. >> it makes him feel good. he's had a couple rough weeks. >> how does he rule the country with the same support before the election. people are willing to admit in the mid to high 30s. the gallup number shows what it was before the election when

people said they weren't going to vote for him. i acknowledge there are people for trump who won't admit it. he hasn't gone up. how is he going to rule the country with a small 30-35% of people behind him. >> 84% of republicans are on board with him. that will keep the republicans on the hill. they are going to work with him on tax reform and the obamacare repeal. he that has luxury of congress to work with. if the number sinks, some republicans may peel off. many don't want to buck him because they don't want to alienate their base. >> he can't do the job. he can't find someone to fill the role of national security adviser. >> i agree. i heard a guy the other night off the record, i can't quote him. he doesn't know people. with all his wealth, he doesn't have a network of people. most people, even w. called up his friends from yale or harvard

and said want to be any ambassador to morocco. at least he had phone numbers. i'm not sure trump has it. who does he call? >> it shows. >> keith kellogg, he called him and got him into that to position. >> what about harward? >> family reasons. >> i can't imagine anyone who wants to defend this country not wanting to be national security adviser to the white house. you have to have a strong aversion. >> it's the most important job. >> it is. he put flynn in and he doesn't have a replacement. this is true across the board. he doesn't care about the job of president. he cares about performing as president. he doesn't care about the job. >> well. then what do we do with it? you act like it's an election company. he's in for four years.

i know your philosophy and i like a lot of it. you say these conclusive statements. i go, okay, it's february. he's got four years to go. you can't just knock him down to nothing. you have to say, is there some sprout of potential that sg can get done? >> i think he plans to work on tax reform. >> someone's got to work with him. >> the white house is working with congress on the tax reform plan. they are working on obamacare, they have said as well. >> you are going to see more congressional leadership from speaker ryan and leader mcconnell. >> the problem is, they don't agree with him. they want to cut into social security and medicare. they don't want to build anything. >> he's not set in his ways. >> as bad as he is, on the issues i care about, protecting older people, and building stuff for young families, i think he's closer than ryan. the round table is sticking with us. up next, they will tell me

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back with the "hardball" round table. in 25 seconds, tell me something i don't know. >> i was talking to a house democrat the other day, trying to get some republicans on a bill that he knew donald trump wouldn't like. they told him, we can't do it. he said why not? he will tweet at us. they are living, running scared. what trump doesn't like, he will tweet against them and have the wrath of the trump tea party. >> you are right. >> the president is really this time working on a rewrite of his executive order that deals with the travel ban. the white house said today, they are rewriting it and expect to have a new -- >> executive order? legal power behind it. >> a new executive order. they are getting around some of the legal complications they came into the first time. they say it will be ready the first part of next week. >> are they going to throw in

other religions? throw in norway, put them on the way. ryan? >> everyone is focused on the back and forth. the republican pack is focused on 2020. they are launching their effort for 2020 right now. the first is governor andrew cuomo. the saying is if you think washington is a swamp, cuomo's albany is -- he's the first target. they are going to look at all of them. >> thank you, david. that's "hardball" for now. thanks for being with us. coming up next, "your business" with j.j. ramberg.

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