The folks over at “Morning Joe” began their new year in a surprisingly old way – by whining and raging about how people viewed their cozy relationship with Donald Trump.

Ever since Donald Trump’s rise to political prominence, the egos at MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” have fought the perception that they are close friends and in the pocket of the now-President-elect.

Of course, when they spent months of the primaries having daily on-air chats with the then-candidate, never requiring him to leave his golden-throned home for the free privilege, eyebrows were raised. Trump has gone on-record calling hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Bryzizinski good friends and he has rewarded their loyalty many times.

And still, when Twitter began to gossip after reporters noticed the hosts among the revelers at Trump’s swanky New Year’s Eve party, Joe lost his cool and accused the reporters of giving a false report.

The two said that they were not attending the party at all but were merely attending a scheduled meeting. Joe and Mika said that they did not stay at the party and were not dressed for the occasion.

And yet, the initial reports which claimed that they were “among the revelers” is completely factual. If the two had been so interested in an interview with Trump, they could have scheduled a meeting at any other moment.

Right as a $400,000-per-plate gala was just beginning was the most inopportune time. The two had to know that reporters would be crawling over the event, hoping to catch political commentators and reporters alike on the wrong side of the political wall.

As they have so many times before, the “Morning Joe” hosts will bellow and moan about how they alone will keep Trump accountable while still keeping up with pointless antics like this.