Drama erupted on live television when Whoopi Goldberg, co-host of "The View," tore up a producer's note in frustration over a comment she made about President Donald Trump.
The incident unfolded Monday during a discussion of Trump’s recent 60 Minutes interview, as reported by the Daily Mail. Goldberg suggested Trump might have used an autopen to sign a pardon for Binance fraudster Changpeng 'CZ' Zhao, sparking a swift reaction from the show’s team.
While dissecting Trump’s admission of not knowing Zhao, whom he pardoned on October 23 after just four months of an 87-month sentence, co-host Sunny Hostin pressed the issue. Goldberg’s offhand remark about an autopen led to Hostin passing her a producer’s note, urging a clarification.
Goldberg’s response was anything but subtle. Reading the note aloud, she snapped, “We don’t know if Trump used an autopen to pardon,” before declaring, “It was a joke!” and tearing the paper to shreds.
Hostin, a legal expert, attempted to smooth the moment by reiterating the uncertainty, but Goldberg wasn’t having it. Her frustration boiled over with an exasperated, “Oh, come on!” as she dismissed the correction as unnecessary.
This wasn’t just a spat over a throwaway line. It exposed a deeper rift between on-air talent and network oversight, especially when humor collides with politically charged topics like presidential pardons.
The pardon itself, issued with a White House statement blaming the Biden administration’s supposed vendetta against cryptocurrency, already stirred controversy. Trump’s candid admission of ignorance about Zhao during the 60 Minutes interview only fueled questions about the decision’s rationale.
Yet, The View’s track record of skewering Trump while often praising Democrats adds another layer to this dust-up. A Media Research Center study noted the show hosted virtually no right-wing guests this year, though Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is set to appear Tuesday.
One has to wonder if Goldberg’s irritation stems from feeling muzzled by a network wary of legal missteps. ABC’s top brass, alongside parent company Disney, reportedly urged the panel to tone down Trump criticism back in May, hinting at mounting pressure behind the scenes.
This isn’t ABC’s first brush with legal consequences over on-air statements about Trump. Last year, Good Morning America’s George Stephanopoulos cost the network a $16 million settlement after inaccurate comments regarding Trump’s civil liability in the E. Jean Carroll case.
Similarly, CBS News paid Trump an identical sum over the summer following a lawsuit about a “deceptively edited” 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris. These hefty payouts signal a broader caution among networks handling politically explosive content.
The View, often a lightning rod for criticism over its perceived slant, now faces whispers of being “the next to be pulled off air,” as per a White House quip after co-host Joy Behar’s jab at Trump. Such warnings, even if half-serious, underscore the tightrope media outlets walk in today’s polarized climate.
Goldberg’s outburst, while theatrical, raises a valid point about the loss of nuance in public conversation. Her lament, “The hardest thing about this job now is no one understands nuance,” cuts to the heart of a culture quick to litigate every word rather than grasp intent.
Still, networks like ABC can’t afford to ignore the legal risks of unvetted claims, even in jest, especially when past errors have cost millions. The balance between freewheeling commentary and accountability remains elusive, and this incident proves how easily that line blurs.
In the end, this clash on The View isn’t just about a torn note or a pardon. It’s a snapshot of a media landscape where every quip can become a liability, and where the fight for candid dialogue wrestles with the specter of lawsuits and bias accusations.
