On Monday, the ladies of The View grappled with the implications of John Fetterman’s recent visit to Mar-a-Lago, where he met with former and incoming President Donald Trump. The discussion, while not entirely unified, saw an unusual level of agreement among the co-hosts regarding Fetterman’s justification for the controversial sit-down.
Fetterman defended his actions, stating his duty to represent all Pennsylvanians, regardless of their political affiliation. He emphasized a desire to find common ground, aiming for a “better Pennsylvania and a better nation.” Sara Haines found this a “common-sense answer,” acknowledging Fetterman’s role to “advise and consent”. The general sentiment, she suggested, was one of pragmatic compromise.
Ana Navarro, however, expressed concern about the optics of the meeting, quipping that it seemed akin to “trucking down to Mecca to see the prophet.” Navarro, while acknowledging that bipartisan collaboration is not unprecedented, stressed the need for politicians to be mindful of public perception.
Alyssa Farah Griffin praised Fetterman as a “straight-shooter,” unafraid to criticize his own party, a sentiment echoed by Sunny Hostin who labeled his actions as “shrewd.” Hostin also criticized Fetterman’s joke about being the pope of Greenland urging him to stop talking about the sovereign nation that is not for sale.
Hostin suggested Trump’s interest in Greenland is due to its oil and natural resources. Whoopi Goldberg took a more relaxed stance, asserting it’s “just talk” as long as no troops are being dispatched to sovereign countries. The co-hosts also mentioned Donald Trump Jr.’s trip to Greenland, further fuelling the discussions about the implications of political interaction, where the line between strategic negotiation and endorsement can seem blurry.
The panel generally came to the consensus that while Fetterman’s attempt to work across the aisle was admirable, he needed to keep holding Trump to account.
The View airs weekdays at 11:00 AM on ABC.