On Monday’s episode of The View, co-host Sunny Hostin sparked outrage by comparing the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot to historical atrocities such as the Holocaust, World War II, and slavery.
Hostin began by reflecting on the immediate aftermath of the Capitol riot, criticizing Republican leaders for what she perceived as a lack of accountability. “I just remember after January 6th, you had someone like Mitch McConnell placing the blame on January 6th where it belonged, squarely on Donald Trump’s shoulders. And then you started seeing people backtrack that and losing their moral center,” she stated.
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JUST IN: The View’s Sunny Hostin compares January 6th to the Holocaust, where millions of Jews died.
I thought Kamala Harris comparing J6 to 9/11 was insane. This tops that.
Hostin also compared J6 to slavery during her bizarre rant.
“You don’t move on, because January 6th was… pic.twitter.com/6yKmVAUdhz
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 6, 2025
She continued by condemning the idea of moving past the events of January 6th. “You had Condoleezza Rice, I believe, on this very show saying, ‘You know, we need to move on from January 6th.’ I say, ‘No. You don’t move on!’ Because January 6th was an atrocity. It was one of the worst moments in American history. And when you think about the worst moments in American history, you know, like World War II, things that happened, you know, like the Holocaust, chattel slavery. We need to never forget because past becomes prologue if you forget and erase.”
Hostin’s comparison quickly drew criticism, particularly from the antisemitism watchdog group StopAntisemitism. The organization posted on X (formerly Twitter), expressing its dismay:
“[StopAntisemitism] is sickened to hear The View host Sunny Hostin compare the January 6th insurrection to the Holocaust. Over 6 million Jews were massacred during the Holocaust. For an entertainment host to compare a riot to such a massive stain in history is nauseating at best.”
Hostin’s co-hosts did not directly challenge her remarks, though Sara Haines emphasized the importance of remembering January 6th.
Haines suggested that the events of the day should be commemorated annually, with video clips of the riot replayed to ensure its significance is not forgotten.
“The important thing is to commemorate it every year in a way, not to compare it to 9/11 because, again, it’s not an equivalent,” Haines said. “But there are people alive today, including my niece, who didn’t know 9/11. So when you talk to anyone that was alive during that time, you have a visceral fear response that takes you back there.”
Hostin’s comments have reignited debates about how the Capitol riot should be framed in the context of U.S. history. Critics argue that comparisons to atrocities like the Holocaust or slavery diminish the unique horrors of those events. Supporters of Hostin’s perspective contend that drawing historical parallels serves as a warning to prevent future abuses of power.
The discussion highlights the ongoing polarization surrounding interpretations of January 6th and its long-term implications for American society.
