Pushing back against rural Americans angry at the liberal elite are akin to “fighting terrorism” according to former MSNBC host Chris Matthews.

In November, the annual Reagan National Defense Survey found 70% of Americans believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction. Despite the overwhelming majority, Matthews suggested on Wednesday on “Morning Joe” that the backlash is primarily “rural rage.”

“But I tell you, it’s very tough, because people that didn’t go to college have a pretty good rage on their hands. That’s what you really want in an election, is a rage. It can be Black rage, or White rage, or rural rage. In this case, it’s rural rage. They are so angry at the liberal establishment, the coastal elite,” Matthews said.