Whoopi Goldberg used The View’s roundtable on Tuesday to lament how “sad” it was that a former president is being charged before Donald Trump was charged with 34 felonies.
Goldberg, 67, called the media procession a “circus” and sparked fierce debate with the quirky remark, which came as the all-female panel was monitoring the situation unfolding just a few blocks from where they were sitting.
Less than three hours later — as reporters and supporters flocked to Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue to catch a glimpse of the ex-president — Trump emerged from the building to loud applause and offered a fist pump to those in attendance.
Trump’s motorcade then made its way to the Big Apple DA’s office further downtown, where he pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Goldberg – an outspoken conservative whose views often put her at odds with her fellow panelists – called the day a “sad” day for America, noting how embarrassed Americans must feel given the day’s events.
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A few hours later — as reporters and supporters alike flocked to Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue to catch a glimpse of the ex-president on his way to court — Trump emerged from Trump Tower to thunderous applause and he put out a fist pump before turning to Manhattan. DA
What do you think of a historic day? You know, it’s sad, but I’m glad something is going on,” Goldberg said, after complaining about the attention Trump’s arraignment received.
Almost immediately, the statement sparked outrage from the other commentators, including Joy Behar, who has been on the show for a long time.
Sunny Hostin — who has received backlash in the past for voicing her progressive opinions about the more moderate Goldberg and Alyssa Farrah Griffin during tapings — also seemed taken back, before admitting the president’s 34-fold indictment over a hush money payment in 2016 was ‘unprecedented’. ‘
But Behar, who at age 80 is the most senior staffer on the long-running program, seemed visibly more puzzled than her peers and began pressuring her fellow View veteran what she really meant.
‘It’s not sad. What’s sad?’ she asked. Goldberg replied, “Well, I’m sorry about that [it is] an American president’
Whoopi Goldberg used The View’s roundtable on Tuesday to lament how “sad” it was that a former president is facing criminal charges as press and protesters continue to gather outside a Manhattan courthouse where Donald Trump’s indictment is being held
The clarification then produced a tentative agreement from Behar, who admitted, “Oh, that’s sad.”
Goldberg took the opportunity to elaborate on her view of the current situation.
‘Well, that’s what I’m saying. It’s a sad American president,” she said, before being interrupted again by Behar.
“But the fact that he’s being called in for questioning, etc. and he’s being charged with committing certain crimes,” Behar insisted, just hours before Trump was booked and fingerprinted in federal court.
“It’s not sad, that’s American justice.”
It was then that Hostin, once a prominent attorney before launching her career as a media personality in 2016, stepped in, pointing to Trump’s presumed innocence given the many checks and balances of the US legal system.
Flanked by fellow hosts Sarah Haines, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin and Alyssa Farrah Green pointed to the attention the case received and said Americans should be ashamed
Almost immediately, the statement sparked outrage from her fellow commentators, including Joy Behar, who has been on the show for a long time.
a few blocks away, protesters flocked outside Trump Tower ahead of Trump’s arraignment
“Or he would have committed crimes, because he has the right,” she said, emphasizing the legal term. “It must be proven.”
Goldberg responded by trying to return to her original point.
“But again,” she insisted, “it’s America’s first—the first time in our lives now. And I don’t think any of us could have ever really imagined this.’
Hostin then grinned, “I imagined it,” before getting a rousing laughter from the studio audience in response.
“With him, yes,” Goldberg admitted. ‘[But] I mean, with other … I would never think with other presidents.’
Hostin, seemingly agreeing, pointed to Trump’s more progressive predecessor: “Yeah, I would never think President Obama would do such a thing.”
Goldberg added, “Even with Bush. I mean, no matter how angry we were at Bush. I don’t think anyone thought this was the direction we would ever go.”
Hostin, however, disagreed, pointing to the actions of another – and also impeached – president, Richard Nixon.
An icy-faced ex-president Donald Trump snapped at reporters and quietly walked into the courtroom after being fingerprinted and processed at New York Criminal Court on Tuesday
Trump was surrounded by his lawyers and political aide Boris Epshteyn (right) as he sat in court on Tuesday
“We had Nixon who was able to get out from under some things,” Hostin said, citing the infamous Watergate scandal and how it could have led to charges being brought against the then president — but instead forced he off.
Farah Griffin — a former Trump aide who briefly worked in 2020 as a strategic communications and aide to the then-President — interjected: “But he still had the sense to resign. You know, get out of the game.’
But Behar, apparently unfazed, protested, “Well, do you know why? Because the Republicans turned against him. Therefore.
“If the Republican Party in this country did the right thing, we wouldn’t be in this position. He would have been impeached in the first place.”
Referring to her history with Trump, Farah Griffin was quick to add that her former employer likely “spiraled” given the pressure of the ongoing fraud and the prospect of his inevitable arrest.
“There are a lot of reports that Trump loves this and that he is raising money, reportedly $8 million,” said Farrah Griffin, who resigned from her position in the White House in 2020 after about three years.
“But I know him well enough to know he doesn’t like this. He is spiraling.
“He’s someone who, despite his terrible actions, thinks about legacy and how he’s seen and now his life, it’s going, whether it’s going to say his obituary, you know, he was indicted, the first American president to become.
“And right now, his team is also panicking about a possible gag order from the judge, preventing him from talking about what happened. And that’s what he wants.
“He wants to go out and shape this his own way and keep the audience spinning. It may not happen.’
Referring to the crowd then seen outside Trump’s residence in Midtown, Goldberg — who was suspended last year after making remarks that made light of the Holocaust — sniped: “The circus is here. The circus has come to town.’
Without using Trump’s name, she added, “The media frenzy continues, as you-know-who heads to a New York courthouse to become the first president ever to face criminal charges.”
“He is expected to plead not guilty. And the judge has banned cameras from broadcasting the proceedings on television.’
Flanked by fellow hosts Hostin, 54, Farrah Griffin, 33, Behar and Sara Haines, 45, Goldberg pointed out the hypocrisy of the attention the supposedly classified federal investigation has received since it was announced last month.
“But we let photographers enter the courtroom before the cases start,” she said.
Reporters are admitted on a first come, first served basis. Apparently they’ve been queuing since last month.’
Trump, meanwhile, has pleaded not guilty to the 34 counts of business record falsification brought against him after becoming the first United States president to be indicted and charged with a felony.
Photos show the 76-year-old – who recently announced a renewed presidential run – standing next to his defense team in Manhattan’s courtroom with a stony face.
His arraignment is currently underway.