Sunny Hostin, a co-host on ABC’s “The View,” has sparked a controversy following her criticism of “Morning Joe” co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski from MSNBC for their meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
Hostin’s comments, which were made during a November 18, 2024 episode, have ignited wider conversations relating to media impartiality, journalistic ethics, and the involvement of media figures with political personalities.
During the episode, Hostin voiced her disapproval, stating, “You don’t need to sit down for 90 minutes at Mar-a-Lago and kiss his ring.” She further suggested that perhaps Scarborough and Brzezinski do not view themselves as conventional journalists but as opinion journalists. She highlighted that Trump had a significant part in ushering the era of fake news.
Hostin’s critique was grounded in Trump’s past track record of hostility towards the press, including the revocation of CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s press credentials and public disputes with multiple Black female journalists. She also cautioned about the hazards of Trump promoting a “state media” atmosphere by endorsing certain outlets and discrediting others.
Co-host Ana Navarro echoed Hostin’s sentiments, stating she would never agree to a meeting with Trump and deemed it unlikely that she would ever need to make such a decision, as she does not anticipate receiving an invitation. She underscored the difficulties of criticizing and denouncing Trump’s misuse of power during his presidency, leading to threats, retaliation against family, unforeseen events at individuals’ residences, lawsuits, and other forms of reprisal. Reflecting on past experiences, she asserted her readiness to face these challenges again if required.
Navarro also implied that many might perceive the actions of Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski as opportunistic, suggesting that some individuals may alter their behavior or loyalties depending on who is in power and what is advantageous for them. She concluded by emphasizing that individuals must live with their decisions and be content with their self-image, stating that she harbors no regrets about her position.
However, the discussion on “The View” unveiled internal tensions within the panel. Sara Haines defended Scarborough and Brzezinski, contending that journalists should meet with the President-elect, even if controversial. Alyssa Farah Griffin added that remaining in “safe bubbles” and criticizing Trump is less effective than direct engagement.
Meanwhile, Hostin is facing criticism for her recent remarks about the voter demographics in the 2024 presidential election. She ascribed Trump’s victory to “uneducated white women” and Latino men, stating on air, “Black women tried to save this country again… what we do not have is white women, who voted about 52 percent for Donald Trump—uneducated white women is my understanding. You have Latino men actually voting more for him.”
The term “uneducated white women” invited sharp criticism, leading Hostin to amend her language to “non-college-educated white women.” Nevertheless, the controversy was ignited. Critics accused her of employing divisive language, with Devon Mostert, the wife of Miami Dolphins player Raheem Mostert, labeling the remarks as both “racist and hypocritical.”
Hostin’s comments regarding Latino men also incited debate, with Griffin suggesting that voters were probably driven by economic issues and family welfare rather than racism or misogyny. Despite Griffin’s counterargument, Hostin persisted, questioning how certain demographics could support a president whose policies seemed to oppose their interests.
Social media reaction to Hostin’s remarks was immediate and severe. Hostin eventually deleted her X account, citing Elon Musk’s endorsement of Trump and her belief that the platform had become a center for “misogyny and racism.” She characterized the move as a “patriotic” action: “Black Twitter was a thing that I loved, and it was sort of replaced with something much darker.”
