New MSNBC contributor and New York Times columnist Bret Stephens mocked Donald Trump Jr. on the air Wednesday, saying the president's eldest son's explanation about a June 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer who promised — but did not deliver — damaging information on then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonJeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Momentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Warning signs flash for Lindsey Graham in South Carolina MORE was akin to calling up a "drug dealer for drugs, but he was out."

“The defense is: I called up my drug dealer for drugs, but he was out,” Stephens said.

“I hate when that happens, by the way," panelist Willie Geist joked as others on the MSNBC set laughed.

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“That’s essentially what he is saying,” Stephens continued. “That the meeting would have been a successful one if a foreign government had provided incriminating or politically advantageous information and successfully meddled in the campaign.”

Stephens noted that the Trump administration appears "nervous" given the latest reports around Trump Jr.'s meeting with a Russian lawyer.

“[I]f this were the big nothing burger that [President] Trump and his team keep insisting it is, he wouldn’t be so nervous about it,” Stephens said. “People aren’t nervous about nonscandals.”

Trump Jr. said the Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, did not have the promised opposition research and instead wanted to discuss changes to policy affecting American adoption of Russian children.

President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE denied Wednesday having any knowledge that Trump Jr. met with a Russian lawyer 13 months ago.

“No, that I didn’t know until a couple of days ago when I heard about this,” Trump said in an interview with Reuters.