MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski apologized Wednesday after she used a crass term to describe Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that many viewers deemed homophobic.

The “Morning Joe” co-host made the offending comment on-air while criticizing Mr. Pompeo’s tepid treatment of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman after the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

“I understand that Donald Trump doesn’t care,” Mrs. Brzezinski said. “He doesn’t care. But why doesn’t Mike Pompeo care right now? Are the pathetic deflections that we just heard when he appeared on ‘Fox & Friends’ — is that a patriot speaking? Or a wannabe dictator’s butt boy?”

.@morningmika just asked if Mike Pompeo is a “wannabe dictator’s butt boy,” as homophobic a term as I’ve heard on national morning television. @MSNBC tried and failed to censor it, and did not transcribe her remark in the closed captioning. #journalism pic.twitter.com/3zK7H8evjh — G.E. Anderson (@g_e_anderson) December 12, 2018

Mrs. Brzezinski’s audio was briefly cut but the slur still made it to air.

“I’m dead serious,” she continued. “I’m asking, are these the words of a patriot?”

“He’s debased himself,” co-host Mr. Scarborough chimed in. “He once again has undercut the conclusions of our intel community.”

Mrs. Brzezinski later apologized on Twitter for the “SUPER BAD” choice of words.

Totally agree with you -SUPER BAD choice of words .. I should have said “water boy”… like for football teams or something like that.. apologize to @SenatorDurbin too! SO SORRY! https://t.co/zIqsGdK3Tk — Mika Brzezinski (@morningmika) December 12, 2018

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