MSNBC host Chris Matthews said President Trump "already ripped the scab off" Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's attempt to "heal the wounds" of a contentious confirmation process.

At a Monday evening ceremonial swearing-in ceremony at the White House, Trump introduced the latest addition to the high court. In doing so, he addressed the past several weeks in which Kavanaugh faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct that allegedly took place in his high school and college years.

Kavanaugh, who denied the allegations, also spoke at the event Monday and stressed that he would be a fair justice. As soon as he wrapped up his remarks and applause filled the room, Matthews chimed in, saying, "Well, Justice Kavanaugh tried as best he could to heal the wounds of the last couple of weeks, but the president already ripped the scab off in his remarks."

[Also read: How Kavanaugh has shaken the midterm elections kaleidoscope]


He then read off a quote from Trump, stressing that this was meant to be a "nonpartisan ceremony": "'On behalf of our nation, I want to apologize to Brett and the entire Kavanaugh family for the terrible pain and suffering you have been forced to endure. ... What happened to the Kavanaugh family violates every notion of fairness, decency, and due process. ... Under historic scrutiny, he was proven innocent.'"

Matthews added that the statement was "partisan" and aimed directly at the midterm elections next month.