White House The View Useful Idiots 2026: Conflict Erupts Over 25th Amendment Call

The long-standing feud between the White House and ABC's 'The View' has reached a boiling point. On January 21, 2026, an administration spokesperson lashed out at cohosts Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin, labeling them "useful idiots" with "no talent." The sharp rebuke followed Goldberg's live appeal for the use of the 25th Amendment to remove Donald Trump from office, citing concerns over his mental fitness.

White House The View Useful Idiots 2026: The Clash of Narratives

The dispute began during Wednesday's broadcast when Goldberg cited Trump’s behavior on the global stage—including his reported desire to acquire Greenland—as evidence that "it's time" for the Vice President and Cabinet to step in. Hostin intensified the rhetoric by calling Trump a "useful idiot" for global adversaries. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle fired back in an email to Entertainment Weekly, turning the insult around on the hosts and claiming their show is "very poorly rated."

Reality Check: Ratings vs. Rhetoric

Despite the administration’s claims of dwindling popularity, current data tells a different story. For the week of Jan. 5, 'The View' posted its highest ratings in nine months, ranking No. 1 in total viewers among daytime talk shows with 2.6 million people tuning in. This disconnect between White House statements and Nielsen data highlights the ongoing battle for public perception.

This latest exchange is part of a broader pattern of hostility. Throughout 2025, officials including FCC Chair Brendan Carr have targeted the program for its perceived liberal bias, even hinting at "consequences" for the show. As the administration maintains its "America First" agenda for the 80 million Americans who voted for it, the war of words with ABC's flagship talk show shows no signs of cooling down.