On Friday’s episode of “The View,” co-hosts took aim at Joy Behar after she hosted Vice President J.D. Vance earlier in the week. They argued that Behar was merely emulating the late Barbara Walters.
“It’s just like what happened with J.D. Vance when he appeared here,” Behar remarked as the panel discussed his visit. “I respect the office and I believe in reaching across the aisle.”
Sunny Hostin then interjected, asking, “But why do you seem to admire J.D. Vance so much?”
“I’m not enamored with him or this administration,” Behar clarified.
During a news conference on Wednesday, Vance humorously claimed that his time on “The View” served as evidence of his capability in tense negotiations like those with Iran.
“For all the skeptics, just remember I spent over an hour on ‘The View,’ which means I’ve got experience in tough negotiations,” he joked. “Honestly, Joy Behar is tougher than the Iranians, and now we’re best friends.”
On the show, Hostin playfully probed, “Were we harder to deal with than the Iranian government?” This prompted laughter from both the audience and fellow co-hosts.
When Ana Navarro suggested Behar could negotiate with Iran, Behar responded, “I think he’s just being ridiculous.”
Navarro described Vance as strategically charming, saying, “He was friendly and quick to laugh. He presented himself well.” Behar then quipped that while it might have worked for others, it didn’t for her.
Hostin echoed this sentiment, stating, “It didn’t work for me, either,” while Behar expressed her irritation at being accused of being too swayed. “I respect the office. I treat anyone who comes on my show as a human being.”
Hostin conceded, recalling Walters’ wisdom about being polite to guests, a lesson she had learned early on. “When I was a guest co-host ages ago, Barbara told me, ‘When someone comes over, be courteous.'”
Some co-hosts voiced doubts about Vance’s political shifts over time, but Behar defended his past, saying, “I believe in redemption. I recall his book, ‘Hillbilly Elegy.’
“He had a tough upbringing, and the book was genuinely good. He’s not the same person he was. I can only wish for a better path for him.”
Behar mentioned during a break that she had suggested to Vance that he had a positive persona as a Republican and should consider running for president.
