This is probably not the TV hit that Florida Governor Rick Scott had in mind this morning.

The whole thing lasted only three and a half minutes, as the conversation turned towards the role of Islam and the view that Muslims have of the United States. When Governor Scott outright refused to refute the idea that Muslims hate America, Morning Joe cohost Mika Brzezinski abruptly cut him down, had his mic shut off, and cut to commercial.

The piece opened when Scott was asked, “Would you tell your friend Donald Trump that he should walk back his statements that Muslims, that Islam, hates America? Do you think Muslims in the state of Florida hate America?”

Scott dodged the question, opting instead for some mumbo jumbo about his constituents in Florida being a melting pot.

“I want you to answer the question!” Joe Scarborough pressed. “Do you personally think that Islam is a religion that hates America?”

As soon as the Governor began to respond again in terms of his homestate — clearly avoiding any semblance of an answer to what should be an easy question — Brzezinski can be heard telling the Morning Joe producers, “Wrap it.”

“No, no. That’s not answering any questions,” said Brzezinski sharply. She ended the interview immediately, and when Rick Scott attempted to speak again, it became clear his mic had been shut off.

Back from commercial, Brzezinski stated to the viewers, “That’s just not what we do on our show.” Watch the above awkward exchange from MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

[image via screengrab]

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.