The co-hosts of "The View" erupted on Thursday after conservative guest host Savannah Chrisley defended President Donald Trump against accusations of racism. The panel was discussing the president's celebration of Black History Month at the White House earlier this week. Chrisley, who is filling in for Alyssa Farah Griffin, argued that she has seen Trump’s character firsthand through his support of her Black friends.
"I think, you know, when it comes to the event that happened yesterday, what's so hard for me to witness is people stating that the president is a racist, because I've seen him firsthand," Chrisley began. "He saved one of my best friends' lives, a Black woman who has been with him for —," she continued before being interrupted. Sunny Hostin immediately fired back, stating, "He is a racist."
Whoopi Goldberg joined the pushback, citing Trump's executive orders targeting DEI programs during his first week back in office. Goldberg argued that these policies undermine national unity and pointed to past controversies, including posts about the Obamas and the Central Park Five. Hostin repeated her stance, asserting, "Donald Trump is a racist. There is no question in my mind."
White House spokesman Davis Ingle issued a scathing response to the segment, calling Hostin a "talentless hack" suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome." Ingle maintained that no president has done more for Black Americans than Trump. He cited criminal justice reform, opportunity zones, and the long-term funding of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as key achievements.
The administration also touted its performance with minority voters during the 2024 election. Trump secured roughly 15% to 16% of the Black vote, the highest share for a Republican in a quarter-century and double his 2020 numbers. While liberal co-hosts pointed to a 2026 Truth Social post as proof of bias, the White House blamed the incident on a staff error.
Chrisley eventually acknowledged that the White House "failed" in how it handled that specific social media post. However, she maintained that the president’s actual policies have consistently empowered minority communities through school choice and tax cuts. Goldberg ended the segment by noting that while the panel disagreed, the ability to have such heated debates is a strength of the show.