WATCH: 'This Show Is Just Going To Be Legal Notes': Trump Cabinet Picks Force 'The View' To Play Cleanup
The View's Sunny Hostin has been repeatedly forced to read on-air legal notes about President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R., Fla.), Pete Hegseth, and Pam Bondi—a task that became so frequent it eventually drew laughs from the audience and her fellow cohosts.
Each legal note followed conversations surrounding the nominees, and in some cases, Hostin read several per episode. The theme started with the cohosts criticizing Kennedy, Trump’s pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services, over his positions on vaccines.
"One accomplishment of the Trump administration that nobody argues with is Operation Warp Speed and safely getting a COVID vaccine that got us all back to normal life and being healthy," Alyssa Farah Griffin said on Nov. 15. "Now [Kennedy’s] running away from healthy, safe vaccines."
Ana Navarro pointed out that Kennedy called the COVID-19 vaccine the "deadliest vaccine ever made" and tied him to a measles outbreak in Samoa.
Hostin followed up with a legal note moments later.
"Kennedy has insisted he is not anti-vaccine and that Americans should make informed choices for themselves and their families. In response to the measles outbreak in Samoa, Kennedy said he bears no responsibility for the outcome," she said.
Hostin issued several legal notes regarding Gaetz, who Trump had tapped as attorney general, though the former congressman later withdrew his nomination. On Nov. 14, Hostin questioned Gaetz’s qualifications, given allegations that he attended drug-filled parties and had sex with a minor. Cohost Sara Haines called him "possibly the most hated man in Congress."
The View cohosts made similar remarks on Nov. 19, with Farah Griffin describing the former congressman as "universally despised in Congress."
"His reputation precedes him in Washington. These allegations are not surprising to people who have been around him and have heard these things over the years," she added.
Later in that episode, Hostin read a legal note.
"Matt Gaetz has long denied all allegations, calling the claims ‘invented,’ and saying in a statement to ABC News that ‘This false smear, following a three-year criminal investigation, should be viewed with great skepticism. The DOJ investigation was closed with no charges being brought,’" Hostin said.
Two days later, Hostin issued a second legal note about Gaetz, plus another regarding Hegseth, Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon.
"I have a legal note. Matt Gaetz has long denied all allegations and has not been charged with any crime. Gaetz previously dismissed allegations that he paid for sex, saying that ‘Someone is trying to recategorize my generosity to ex-girlfriends as something more untoward,’" Hostin said Thursday.
During that episode, Haines grouped Hegseth with Gaetz as nominees who have "alleged sexual misconduct or harassment." A woman told police in 2017 that Hegseth, a Fox News host, sexually assaulted her in a hotel room. No charges were brought.
"Sexual misconduct allegations seem not to matter anymore. It seems like unless you have a sexual misconduct allegation, you can’t be in the cabinet," Whoopi Goldberg said.
Those comments led to another legal note from Hostin.
"Pete Hegseth's lawyer said he paid the woman in 2023 to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit. He has denied any wrongdoing," she said.
"Just call the show ‘Legal Note’ from now on," Joy Behar said.
The theme continued the next day with Hostin issuing three legal notes. After Trump tapped Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, following Gaetz’s withdrawal, Farah Griffin and Hostin described Gaetz as "dangerous." The panel agreed that Bondi was more qualified than the former congressman.
Farah Griffin similarly suggested that Hegseth had little qualifications and said he should face "renewed scrutiny" following Gaetz’s withdrawal.
"I have a legal note," Hostin said during Friday's episode. "Matt Gaetz has long denied all allegations and has not been charged with any crime."
"Also, another legal note," Hostin continued. "Pete Hegseth’s lawyer said he paid the woman in 2023 to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit. He has denied any wrongdoing."
"That's interesting. Pay off the witness," Behar said.
That episode’s third legal note surrounded Bondi.
Gaetz "would have been a very dangerous pick for the Department of Justice. But Trump’s new pick, Pam Bondi? I believe she’s a dangerous pick as well because she supported Trump’s false election claims," Hostin said. "She was involved in the efforts to overturn the results."
Hostin also suggested there were "bribery accusations" against Bondi, a likely reference to the former attorney general’s decision not to investigate Trump’s for-profit school after Trump donated money to a PAC associated with Bondi.
"I’m sorry everyone. I have another legal note," Hostin said later in the episode, prompting laughter from the panel and audience. "Both Trump and Pam Bondi have denied allegations of a quid pro quo that his past donation played any role in her office’s decision to not take legal action against Trump University when she was, of course, the attorney general of Florida."
"This show is just going to be legal notes and things we’re selling," Navarro said.
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