MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle Stuns the World: Forced to Apologize Live for a Jaw-Dropping Lie About Tulsi Gabbard and Trump’s “Putin Friendship,” Then Shocks Fans with a Bizarre Attitude That Left Everyone Speechless—What Was She Thinking?

On March 18, 2025, MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle found herself in a firestorm after falsely claiming on “The 11th Hour” that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard had praised a “good friendship” between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. The bombshell misstep, aired to millions, unraveled when the full interview revealed Gabbard was actually talking about Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The next night, Ruhle was forced to eat her words live on air, delivering a curt apology: “We said that world leader was Vladimir Putin. The full interview shows that Gabbard was referring to Trump and Indian Prime Minister Modi. We’ve cleared that up.” But what happened next sent fans into a frenzy.

Rather than showing contrition, Ruhle’s demeanor turned oddly cavalier—some called it smug, others defiant—as she breezed past the correction with a smirk and a quip about the news cycle moving fast. Social media erupted. “She just lied about a national security figure and acted like it was a weather report mix-up!” one X user raged. Another posted, “The attitude! She’s apologizing but not sorry—wild!” Gabbard’s team didn’t hold back either, with spokesperson Alexa Henning blasting the report as “literal fake news” and “total trash,” accusing MSNBC and the Associated Press (which also retracted its story) of pushing a political hit job.

The fallout was swift. The AP admitted its initial headline—“Gabbard Says Trump and Putin are ‘Very Good Friends’”—failed its standards, correcting it to reflect Gabbard’s actual praise of Trump’s peace efforts and Modi ties. Ali Velshi, guest-hosting “The Last Word,” echoed Ruhle’s retraction, but it was her bizarre pivot that stole the show. Fans expected humility after such a high-stakes blunder; instead, they got a shrug that felt like a middle finger to accountability. “She’s acting like she didn’t just smear Tulsi on live TV,” one viewer fumed.

As of April 8, 2025, the incident has fueled debates about media trust. Gabbard, speaking at India’s Raisina Dialogue, had emphasized Trump’s “unwavering commitment to peace,” a stark contrast to the Putin narrative Ruhle spun. The gaffe—and Ruhle’s nonchalant follow-up—left supporters stunned and critics crowing. Was it arrogance, defiance, or just a bad night? Whatever it was, it turned a routine correction into a spectacle that’s still got everyone talking. For Ruhle, it’s a reminder: in the age of instant backlash, attitude can overshadow even the biggest apology.