Co-host of “The View” Whoopi Goldberg sparked backlash after the presidential election when commenting on President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet selections. Making an embellished claim during a November segment, Goldberg lamented that the allegations of sexual assault brought against some of the nominees were not being taken seriously. She even insinuated that it appeared having a “sexual misconduct allegation” was part of the criteria for being in Trump’s cabinet.
Goldberg said, “Sexual misconduct allegations seem not to matter anymore. seems like unless you have a sexual misconduct allegation, you can’t be in the cabinet.” She continued, “I mean, that’s what it’s looking like. because, i mean, was it eleven people? and maybe one of the eleven doesn’t have something.” Contrary to Goldberg’s comments, only three of Trump’s cabinet picks face unproven accusations.
Joy Behar chimed in, “I think it was Cindy Adams used to have these parties, and they’d say, if you’re not indicted, you’re not invited. And it reminds me of this. Oh let’s see who’s accused of sex were soft, put them in the cabinet.” While the Goldberg didn’t outright state they were guilty of the allegations, some on social media interpreted her comments as such.
Conservative comedian and author Tim Young, shared the clip writing, “Whoopi Goldberg claimed every Trump cabinet pick is guilty of s*xual misconduct. This show and its hosts should be sued into oblivion.” Referencing the continual legal notices the co-hosts have had to read on air after the election, another person quipped, “I see another legal statement being read on the view.”
Since Trump’s election, “The View” has spent a considerable amount of time commenting on the incoming Trump administration and the cabinet picks. However, they have been forced to read numerous “legal notes” adding additional context to their commentary, presumably to avoid legal liability. The American Tribune reported on one instance in which Goldberg questioned her producer, Brian Teta, about why they have to read such notices.
“We have to do these legal notes each time to say what has been proven to be a fact. We have to deny it on their behalf, is that right?” Goldberg asked Teta. He responded, “We have to state the denials that they’ve stated.” The co-host then said, “One day you’ll tell me why.” Teta answered, “I think I’ve told you a couple times, but we could talk about it.”
“No, no, not this. Because I find it odd when everybody has seen it and they know that it’s not necessarily the truth,” she said about the Trump notice, as tension was growing. “We’re showing what they’ve said on the record as their statement,” Teta maintained. As the conversation was going nowhere, co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin chimed in, “We can do it off-air, guys.” “We’re out of time, the music is playing,” Teta stated. Wrapping up the conversation before they cut to the commercial break, Goldberg said, “All right, well, we’ll be back.”
Watch Goldberg’s claim about the cabinet picks below:
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
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