Whoopi Goldberg, the outspoken host of *The View*, is once again at the center of controversy after making a distasteful joke about former President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and JD Vance during Thursday’s show. The 69-year-old comedian and talk show host’s off-the-cuff remark quickly became a lightning rod for criticism, forcing Goldberg into damage control mode.
The segment began as Goldberg and her co-hosts discussed Elon Musk’s increasing involvement in political affairs, particularly his commentary on the bipartisan spending bill being debated in Congress to prevent a government shutdown.
Goldberg, who has long been an outspoken critic of Trump, was pondering the role of Musk in the political arena. “Who is in charge?” Goldberg asked. “Because I’ve been saying it for a while. I think Elon Musk believes he’s president. I do.”
“I’ve called him vice president. I’ve called him president. Because I don’t know what JD is doing,” she added, referring to JD Vance, the Republican Senator from Ohio. “I don’t remember the last time we even talked about JD.”
Joy Behar, a fellow co-host, jumped in, joking about Vance’s plans for the future. “He’s planning the presidency when they get rid of Trump,” Behar said, fueling the idea of a Musk-Vance presidential ticket.
Goldberg, clearly amused, responded, “You think it’s ‘Musk-Vance’?” Behar nodded, suggesting that such a pairing was a possibility.
But the conversation took a darker turn when Goldberg, in what many perceived as an attempt at humor, said, “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.”
The comment, which was met with laughter from the studio audience, raised eyebrows and immediately sparked outrage online. Many viewed the joke as an inappropriate and reckless comment, given Trump’s past health scares, including his recovery from COVID-19. Critics quickly accused Goldberg of making light of potential harm to the former president, a claim she would later attempt to walk back.
After the commercial break, Goldberg offered a half-hearted apology, explaining that her comment was not meant to be taken literally. “I need to clean something up,” Goldberg began. “My cat lays in wait for me on my stairs all the time. That’s what I was referring to.”
She continued, “I wasn’t trying to indicate that they were actually standing there with their legs out hoping he would trip.”
Her co-host, Sunny Hostin, added an extra layer of defense, saying, “Nobody wants anything done to the president.” Goldberg agreed, further explaining that her remark was simply “light-hearted” and intended to be humorous, especially considering the holiday season.
Despite the attempts to clarify, the damage had already been done. Goldberg’s joke quickly drew ire from conservatives, who pointed out the hypocrisy of *The View* hosts, who frequently criticize any rhetoric perceived as threatening toward public figures, especially Democrats. It seems that for Goldberg, a moment of levity quickly turned into a public relations crisis.
This isn’t the first time Goldberg has sparked controversy with her comments. In the past, she has criticized the former president while simultaneously defending the rhetoric of liberal figures. Her remarks about Musk’s role in the GOP also align with her ongoing disdain for Trump and his influence on American politics.
In the end, it seems clear that Goldberg’s attempt at humor fell flat. Whether she truly intended harm or simply let her words run away with her, the backlash reveals just how sensitive the current political climate has become. At the very least, the incident has reminded viewers that, in the era of hyper-sensitive political discourse, even a seemingly innocuous comment can easily spiral out of control.
