A tense moment unfolded on ABC’s “The View” Monday when host Whoopi Goldberg received a note from producers during a live broadcast, demanding she clarify comments made about President Donald Trump.
The veteran host’s response was immediate and defiant—she ripped the note to pieces on camera.
The incident occurred during a segment discussing Trump’s recent appearance on “60 Minutes.”
Co-host Sunny Hostin had been questioning the president’s pardon of Changpeng Zhao, a convicted Binance fraudster, after Trump admitted during the interview he had “no idea” who Zhao was when granting the pardon.
During the discussion, Goldberg interjected with what appeared to be a lighthearted comment.
“Because he used an autopen,” she said, seemingly joking that Trump might not have known about the pardon because he used an automated signing device.
The conversation continued until Hostin quietly passed a note across the table to Goldberg.
The note, which the Daily Mail confirmed came from the show’s producers, contained a clarification request that immediately sparked frustration from the longtime host.
Reading the note aloud, Goldberg stated: “What the hell? What? ‘We don’t know if Trump used an autopen to pardon.’ It was a joke!”
Hostin attempted to reiterate the producers’ concern.
“Yes, we don’t know whether Trump used an autopen to pardon—” she began, before Goldberg cut her off with continued objections.
The frustration boiling over, Goldberg declared “Oh, come on!” before dramatically tearing the producer’s note into pieces.
She then launched into a broader critique about the current climate surrounding television commentary.
“Well, I’m sorry. The hardest thing about this job now is no one understands nuance,” Goldberg explained to viewers and her fellow panelists.
“You know when you hear a joke, when somebody’s fooling around, when they’re not saying something specific. Especially on this show, I’m very specific when I’m pointing stuff out. When I’m making jokes, you know when I’m making jokes!” Goldberg continued, defending her approach to hosting.
She concluded the exchange by calling the situation “ridiculous.”
The pardon at the center of the discussion involved Zhao, who received clemency from Trump on Oct. 23. The Daily Mail reported that he had been serving an 87-month sentence after pleading guilty to failing to sufficiently combat money laundering on his cryptocurrency exchange in late 2023.
Trump was only four months into his sentence when the pardon was granted.
The White House defended the decision in a statement, blaming the conviction on the Biden administration’s “desire to punish the cryptocurrency industry.”
WATCH:
Earlier this year, executives at ABC News and parent company Disney reportedly asked the show’s panelists to reduce their constant criticism of Trump.
The pressure from network leadership suggests concern about the program’s editorial balance and potential consequences.
The White House has even suggested that “The View” could be the next program “pulled off air,” after co-host Joy Behar remarked that Trump was “jealous” of former President Barack Obama.
Such statements have contributed to tension between the administration and the network.
The Daily Mail noted that a recent analysis by Media Research Center’s Newsbusters confirmed that the program featured almost no right-wing guests throughout the year.
The guest list has been heavily weighted toward Democrats, including President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Congressional Democrat Jasmine Crockett, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Other Democratic figures who appeared on the show included former President Bill Clinton and senators Bernie Sanders, Chuck Schumer, and Elissa Slotkin. However, Goldberg announced last week that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is scheduled to appear Tuesday, potentially marking a shift in booking strategy.
