Another day, another fiasco on ABC’s *The View*. This time, co-host Sunny Hostin found herself reading a painfully awkward legal note after making misleading claims about President-elect Donald Trump’s Secretary of Defense nominee, Pete Hegseth. The incident, which unfolded on December 2, has become emblematic of the show’s chaotic nature and its penchant for outlandish statements.
The trouble began during a heated discussion about Pete Hegseth, a combat veteran and Fox News personality. Hostin, in her typical style, launched into a tirade about unsubstantiated accusations against Hegseth, invoking a comparison to the smear campaign waged against Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings.
However, as has become routine on *The View*, Hostin was abruptly interrupted by the producers and forced to read a legal note clarifying her claims. Deadpan and visibly irritated, she stated, “Pete Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer said he paid the woman in 2023 to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit. No charges were ever brought.”
Whoopi Goldberg, equally exasperated, snapped at the producers, sarcastically asking, “You rushed me for that?” The moment underscored the disarray that often characterizes *The View* and its co-hosts’ attempts to craft narratives with little regard for accuracy.
The absurdity of yet another forced legal note did not go unnoticed by conservative commentators. Tim Young, a prominent social media personality, quipped, “Sunny Hostin had to read ANOTHER legal note to cover for their false claims against Pete Hegseth! At what point does ABC realize *The View* is a major liability and either fire the lunatic hosts or cancel the show?”
Young’s post sparked a flood of replies mocking the show and its hosts. One user joked, “The legal notes are the most interesting part of the show.” Another observed, “If it weren’t for social media, no one would ever hear of these nitwits.”
Others called for more serious action, with one commenter suggesting, “The only way to shut them up is to sue them into bankruptcy.” Another added, “Cancel the show—it’s turning into a circus. Another legal note? Sounds staged to me.”
One of the most striking criticisms came from those pointing out Hostin’s background as a lawyer. “Isn’t she supposed to be a lawyer herself?” one user joked, adding that her repeated blunders make the legal notes even more ironic. Another chimed in, “These Hostage Legal Notes are making *The View* fun again,” likening Hostin’s deadpan delivery to that of someone forced to admit their own mistakes under duress.
While *The View* has long served as a liberal echo chamber, even some left-leaning viewers seem tired of the circus. One commenter remarked, “They’re trying to milk it for ratings now.” Others suggested the constant gaffes and legal notes are evidence of the show’s decline, with one user bluntly stating, “The show needs a serious revamp, or it’s just going to keep sinking.”
For conservatives, the spectacle is as entertaining as it is frustrating. The legal notes are a recurring reminder of the hosts’ reckless rhetoric and the broader media’s willingness to smear those associated with Trump. As the fiascos pile up, it remains to be seen how long ABC will continue to prop up this flailing talk show.
