Watch: MSNBC Host Can't Believe What He's Hearing After Anti-Trumper Vows to Support 45 Over Kamala Harris

Gordon Sondland, the former Trump administration ambassador to the European Union, made a clear break with former President Trump after the events of January 6, 2021. This shift temporarily earned him media attention, as often happens when individuals publicly distance themselves from Trump. For example, even those with the last name "Cheney" went from being labeled as fascists to being celebrated on platforms like CNN and MSNBC.

Sondland had his time in the spotlight, but he's also someone seemingly grounded in reality—something MSNBC host Ari Melber discovered on Wednesday. During an interview, Sondland stated he would support Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris due to the current administration’s detrimental policies, which he described as attacks on democracy.

Melber’s interview featured Sondland, along with former Trump adviser Peter Navarro and White House deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews, as part of a segment covering topics like Donald Trump, the 2024 election, and Jack Smith’s latest legal filing. Although the full interview lasted around 11 minutes, it was one minute of Sondland’s remarks that caused a stir.

Melber questioned, "Why was it important for you to say ‘no more Trump’ after his January 6th conduct, and do you stand by that?"

Sondland replied, "No, I don’t stand by it."

He further explained, "I’ve now lived four years under Biden-Harris policies, and not only are these policies becoming an existential threat to our country’s way of life, but to our allies’ as well."

This led to a heated exchange.

Surprised, Melber exclaimed, "This is so striking! You said, ‘It was a no for me’ after that. And now, you’re saying it’s a yes for you?"

Sondland responded firmly: "It is a yes for me. It is an absolute yes for me. That is how poorly the Biden-Harris team has managed their responsibilities."

Melber then pivoted, saying, "But the whole point you seemed to be making was that January 6th and that kind of attack on democracy are bigger than any other issues."

Sondland quickly countered: "I am seeing so many attacks on democracy that eclipse January 6th."

It’s important to recall what Sondland said about Trump in 2022, as reported by The Wall Street Journal: “We are the most admired around the world for the way we transfer power to new leaders,” he said. “And he really f***ed that up… I won’t support him.”

That statement came before the 2022 midterms and as he was promoting his book, The Envoy: Mastering the Art of Diplomacy with Trump and the World. Since then, ongoing conflicts like the war in Ukraine, new tensions in Israel, potential conflicts with Iran, and the unchecked rise of China have painted a grim global picture. Domestically, attacks on free speech and debates over the filibuster are additional concerns.

Sondland wasn’t a hardcore "Never Trumper"; in his book, he described Trump as “kind of a d***” and “a man with a fragile ego” but acknowledged that Trump “was essentially right about many things,” including the dysfunctional relationship between the U.S. and Europe. According to a profile in Foreign Policy, Sondland noted that while Trump often publicly praised strongmen like North Korean leader Kim Jong Un or Russian President Vladimir Putin, he approached national security with a pragmatic, realist mindset.

“He does not like Putin at all,” Sondland said. “While he compliments Putin publicly, it’s a contrarian strategy.”

Now registered as a pro bono lobbyist for Ukraine, Sondland isn’t just speculating about the dangers of current policies. He’s directly seen how Biden-Harris decisions are impacting Eastern Europe, and believes Trump would handle the situation more effectively.

“As a U.S. citizen who believes strongly in Ukraine’s survival and total victory, I felt it’s my duty — given the direction some members of the Republican Party are taking — to advocate for Ukraine with Congress and others,” Sondland said. He believes Trump’s unpredictability could have deterred Putin from invading.

However, the media continues to emphasize the Capitol incursion of January 6th above all else, treating it as one of the worst events in U.S. history, comparable to 9/11 or Pearl Harbor. Yet, Sondland and others argue that the incident was a brief disruption in a congressional session, not a unique challenge to democracy. After all, election results have been questioned in the past—remember the uproar in 2000, 2004, and 2016?

If Melber finds Sondland’s change of heart surprising, it’s worth noting that Sondland has seen how policy decisions play out behind the scenes. He understands that four more years of Biden-Harris policies could harm many democracies, including America’s own.

If that comes as a shock to Melber, perhaps the issue lies with him—and the news—not Sondland.