In a charged post-election broadcast on October 6, 2024, the hosts of ABC’s “The View” reacted strongly to Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, with moderator Whoopi Goldberg refusing to utter the winner’s name.
The hosts, who had all voted for Harris, expressed varying degrees of concern about the election outcome. Sunny Hostin declared herself “profoundly disturbed” by the results, voicing worries about the impact on working-class Americans, the elderly, and her children’s future.
In a clear show of disapproval, Whoopi Goldberg chose not to say Trump’s name on air, highlighting her enduring opposition to his influence and rhetoric. Her silence conveyed her discomfort with his return to power, reinforcing her commitment to unity and justice despite the outcome.
While acknowledging her disagreement with the outcome, host Joy Behar emphasized the functionality of the democratic process: “The system worked,” she stated, though she maintained her readiness to protest if necessary.
Reflecting on her campaign efforts, Ana Navarro spoke about her work to elect the first Black-Asian woman president and affirmed her commitment to continue advocating for marginalized groups. She acknowledged that history once again slipped away. Despite her hard work to prevent Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, she recognized his victory, distinguishing herself from Trump and his followers. She voiced hope for the country’s future and pledged unwavering support for the LGBTQ community, immigrants, the elderly, young girls, and women, assuring that their fight will continue. While allowing for sadness today, she called for resilience and action starting tomorrow.
Alyssa Farah Griffin, who previously served in Trump’s communications office, offered a more measured response. She admitted this wasn’t the outcome she had hoped for but reminded viewers that tens of millions of Americans, including friends, neighbors, and family, voted for Trump, describing them as good, patriotic people who genuinely love the country.
While she couldn’t fully understand what motivated them, she saw this as an opportunity to listen more closely to one another, reduce the hostility, and avoid demonizing others. Griffin reflected that rural America and the working class often feel neglected by the elite, who they believe only care about power. Trump resonated with these groups, and while his rhetoric may not have been universally appreciated, his supporters showed up for him in record numbers, even surpassing the Reagan era in some regions. She expressed confidence that decent people would be working in Trump’s administration.
The election discussion followed months of tension between “The View” hosts and Trump. In previous broadcasts, Trump had labeled the show’s panelists as “really dumb people” and criticized Goldberg’s comedy as “filthy, dirty” and “disgusting.” Goldberg responded that Trump had hired her four times for events at his casinos.
The conversation shifted to a heated debate over the Latino vote in Texas, with Hostin attributing Trump’s support among Latino voters to factors like misogyny and sexism. Griffin, however, argued that border security concerns were the primary drivers of this support. Electoral data highlighted that a significant majority of Latino voters in Texas backed Trump, with most pointing to immigration as their top concern.
Former “View” host Meghan McCain weighed in on the show’s coverage, criticizing ABC for not including a conservative woman who could explain Trump’s continued popularity with certain voter demographics.
