The ABC talk show “The View” finds itself under fresh criticism following controversial statements made by co-host Whoopi Goldberg about the President-elect Donald Trump. The unease arose during a segment on December 19, 2024, where the topic of discussion was Elon Musk’s escalating political sway.
The contentious conversation arose during a debate about a failed bipartisan spending bill. Goldberg raised questions about the power dynamics in Washington, specifically Musk’s influence on the policies of the Trump administration. The controversy intensified when co-host Joy Behar implied that Vice President-elect JD Vance and Musk were plotting against Trump.
Goldberg subsequently made a statement that critics interpreted as a veiled threat, saying, “Hey, you know who [Trump]; stay away from the stairways… Because, you know, people put their leg out to trip you going down the stairs. Watch out.”
Following a commercial break, Goldberg sought to clarify her remarks, asserting that they were a reference to her cat’s behavior on stairs and not an insinuation of harm towards the president-elect.
On December 22, Trump refuted claims that he had “ceded the presidency” to Musk, citing constitutional restrictions that prevent foreign-born citizens from holding the office.
This controversy surfaces as Musk’s involvement in Trump’s transition becomes more prominent. Musk, a regular visitor at Mar-a-Lago, has engaged in discussions with global leaders and influenced staffing decisions. Trump appointed Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy as co-chairs of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with the mission to identify $500 billion in “unauthorized” or “misused” spending. Critics caution about potential conflicts of interest as Musk’s companies hold billions in federal contracts.
The spending bill that triggered the debate contained provisions that could have restricted Musk’s operations in China. Musk leveraged his social media platform to influence House Republicans to reject the bill, resulting in its failure.
Musk’s political action committee is set to play a substantial role in Republican primaries, financing challengers to House members who oppose Trump’s nominees. Recent filings disclosed Musk’s $200 million donation to a pro-Trump super PAC and a $20 million contribution to a group asserting that Trump would not endorse a nationwide ban on abortion.
“The View” has previously encountered controversies related to Trump. In November 2024, the show made four legal notes in a single episode after making unverified claims about Trump’s cabinet picks, which included Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, and Pam Bondi.
In July 2022, the show retracted allegations made by Sunny Hostin and Joy Behar that protesters at a Turning Point USA event were “invited” by the organization. Following a cease-and-desist letter from the conservative group, Sara Haines clarified on-air, “We want to make clear that these demonstrators were gathered on public property, not on the conference grounds.”
Since acquiring the social media platform X in 2022, Musk’s influence has significantly expanded. His posts often reach a wider audience than Trump’s, enabling him to influence policy and cabinet selections for the incoming administration.
