Following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, the co-hosts on “The View” have been forced to read numerous legal notices about the incoming president and his cabinet picks. The panel of commentators have recently led contentious debates about the upcoming administration, speculating about allegations brought against various individuals.
During one post-election segment, Hostin announced live on-air, “I have a legal note…Matt Gaetz has long denied all allegations and has not been charged with any crime.” In another statement, Hostin delivered a note about Trump’s cabinet pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth. “Also another legal note, Pete Hegseth’s lawyer said he paid the woman in 2023 to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit. He has denied any wrongdoing,” she added.
“I have another legal note,” Hostin said later. “Both Trump and Pam Bondi have denied allegations of a quid pro quo that his past donation played any role in her office’s decision to not take legal action against Trump University. When she was, of course, the Attorney General of Florida.” This prompted Navarro to joke, “This show is going to be just legal notes and things we’re selling. Behar chimed in, “That’s why I said we’re not calling the legal note.”
The Tribune reported on another legal note from December 2, where Sunny Hostin had to read off yet another clarification about Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth. This time it pertained to comments from Hostin about Hegseth paying off a woman in recent years to avoid a lawsuit. “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.” Reacting to the interruption to the segment, Whoopi Goldberg said, “You rushed me for that?”
In other news regarding the legal notices, The Tribune reported on Whoopi Goldberg sparring with the show’s executive producer about why they have to read the statements on air. “I mean, this is what 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?” she asked, looking at the producer.
“We have to state the denials that they’ve stated,” Teta answered. “One day you’ll tell me why,” Goldberg said. The executive producer responded that he had informed her a couple of times as to why they have to read the legal notices, but offered to speak to her about it again. “No, no, not this. Because I find it odd when everybody has seen it and they know that it’s not necessarily the truth,” Goldberg added, referencing a note they had to read about Trump denying any wrongdoing in the 2020 election..
“We’re showing what they’ve said on the record as their statement,” Teta said. “We can do it off-air, guys,” said co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin weighed in as the conversation was going nowhere. “We’re out of time, the music is playing,” Teta said. “All right, well, we’ll be back,” Goldberg said before the segment cut to a commercial break.
Watch the legal notices below:
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
"*" indicates required fields