The âhot topicâ of President Joe Biden pardoning his son resulted in two co-hosts of âThe Viewâ going head-to-head in Mondayâs show.
Host Whoopi Goldberg took exception to co-host Alyssa Farah Griffinâs assessment that Biden lied when he previously said he would not Pardon his son, Hunter â something he eventually did Sunday night, per Mediaite.
Most of Mondayâs panel understood Bidenâs decision.
Co-host Sunny Hostin pointed out President-elect Donald Trump âescaped responsibility for his crimesâ even though he was convicted earlier this year in the hush money trial.
Hostin also said Trump pardoned Charles Kushner during his first term as president and recently nominated him to be ambassador to France.
Griffin, the sole Republican on the panel, viewed things differently, saying most Americans âface consequences for actions that they tookâ knowing ânobody powerfully and connected is going to come sweep in.â
âThis feeds the notion to a lot of this country that thereâs a different set of rules for folks in power, and when we sit here and say, like: âWell, Donald Trump did X, Y, and Z, and how did he get elected?ââ Griffin said. âTo a lot of this country, it just becomes noise. If you commit crimes and somebody powerful and connected in D.C., right, left, center, Biden, Trump, youâre going to be able to get away with it.â
Griffin said she didnât like that Biden had lied.
âI take issue with lying about it. I wanted to ask here when he came on âThe View,â but the thought was he said so many times he wasnât going to Pardon him. That, to me, is lying to the public,â the conservative host said. âI felt bad for Karine Jean-Pierre; she had to say he wasnât going to Pardon him. Thatâs why they donât trust Washington or politicians and I know a lot of us like Joe Biden, but I find it disappointing and bad for our institutions.â
Co-host Ana Navarro chimed in, saying said that she wanted Hunter Biden to make the most of this âgreat gift of freedom.â
Griffin reiterated her stance.
âI respect it as a parent. I understand why he would do it, but I wanted to understand why lie about it for so long?â she asked.
Thatâs when Goldberg stepped in.
âI would stop⊠I would stop calling it a lie,â Goldberg said.
âOK. Why repeatedly saying youâre not not going to, and you do?â Griffin responded. âThe half of the country that doesnât support Biden and doesnât get to have phone calls and theyâre looking at a system that only benefits the people who are in power. What precedent does that set?â
Goldberg responded by bringing up Trump.
âItâs a precedent for all of us to open our eyes because weâve elected somebody who was in a similar situation who didnât have a drug problem, who knew what he was doing,â Goldberg said. âWho clearly stood and said, âI can do thisâ and he did it.â
âI think Biden had no intentions of pardoning Hunter, and I think the more stuff that went down⊠I think he said, âwell, why am I busting my behind to stay straight and do this when nobody is? When no one else is?ââ she added.
âI think he thought he was going to win ,â Griffin replied. âAnd I wish he would have been honest with the public.â
