ABCs daytime talk show The View has once again revealed its double standard in handling the Jeffrey Epstein files, this time when one of its own was unexpectedly swept into the scandals orbit.
The program has devoted extensive airtime to the Epstein revelations, almost always with a predictable, left-leaning narrative that targets conservatives and especially President Donald Trump, according to Western Journal. As KNDO-TV recently reported, co-host Sunny Hostin seized on the controversy to demand consequences within the Trump administration, focusing her ire on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick after his name surfaced in connection with Epsteins private island.
This is the Commerce secretary, Hostin said of Lutnick, who had acknowledged visiting Epsteins island. This is the person that is the chief advisor on the economy to the president, job growth. Were talking about trade. The fact that he could lie so audaciously means to me that he is not fit for his position.
He must resign. We should be collectively calling for his resignation. He is unfit, as much of the cabinet is unfit, but he is especially unfit. Hostin then invoked President Trumps famous television persona to press her point, adding, Resignation is the right thing, and he if he doesnt resign, this guy Lutnick, I think the president is really good at firing people. Remember, Youre fired! Youre fired! He needs to fire him.
The shows hostility toward the Trump administration has been mutual, with the White House historically showing little hesitation in pushing back against the panels rhetoric. (And, as People magazine noted, Trumps White House has had little issue returning fire to The View.)
Yet on Tuesday, the tone shifted dramatically when the Epstein documents implicated someone much closer to the shows own set. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg, who had conspicuously sidestepped the matter for several broadcasts, finally addressed the fact that her own name appeared in the files.
My name is in the files, yes, Goldberg admitted. And what does it say? It says Whoopi needs a plan to get to Monaco [for Julian Lennons charity function].
It appears that what was recorded was essentially a declined travel request, with no further connection alleged. So in other words, anybody can be on this list, co-host Joy Behar observed, suddenly adopting a more cautious tone about guilt by association.
Well, this is my point, Goldberg replied. Because I tell you when Im telling you, people are trying to turn me into I wasnt his girlfriend. I wasnt his friend. She added pointedly, You used to have to have facts before you said stuff.
Almost immediately, Behar pivoted back to President Trump, highlighting how often his name has been mentioned in relation to Epstein despite no evidence of criminal conduct. Goldberg refused to engage on Trump, instead focusing on distancing herself from any insinuation of impropriety tied to Epstein.
The segment closed with the co-hosts conceding that the sheer number of high-profile individuals named in the Epstein files means that innocent public figures Goldberg included, in their telling can be unfairly dragged into the scandal. Notably, that same presumption of innocence and demand for facts was never extended to President Trump, underscoring a partisan double standard that viewers have come to expect from The View.
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