“The View” predictably rejoiced Friday over former President Trump’s historic guilty verdict in his criminal trial, celebrating the news as a victory for the country and the host himself.
“It felt like America won,” co-host Sunny Hostin said. “It felt like New York won. It felt like the Manhattan district attorney’s office won. It felt like I won.”
“I was so excited, I kind of leaked,” co-host Joy Behar said after hearing the news.
All six of the show’s hosts, two of whom are Republicans but fervent anti-Trump supporters, came to the table and exited with beaming smiles, ready to soak in the news, even taking turns recounting when they found out about the guilty verdict.
Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin were all smiles on the May 31, 2024, episode of “The View.” (The View / Screenshot)
‘It’s completely insane’: Americans react to Trump’s shocking guilty verdict in New York trial
Host Whoopi Goldberg, who usually takes Friday off, appeared on air and dramatically read the news of the guilty verdict amid cheers and applause from the audience. Fellow host Ana Navarro also applauded, but Goldberg made a mistake in her announcement, calling Trump a “convicted” felon before correcting herself and saying he was “guilty.”
Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a 2016 payment of $130,000 to Stormy Daniels to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump.
“He was cheap, that’s just the way he is,” Goldberg said.
“There were 12 jurors, and they all found him guilty on all 34 charges,” Behar said.
Co-host Alyssa Farrah Griffin, a former Trump aide who began speaking out against Trump following his claims of 2020 election fraud, said she expected the outcome but was still shocked by it.
Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower on Thursday, May 30, 2024, after being convicted of 34 counts of first-degree falsifying business records. (Felipe Ramares for Fox News Digital)
“Knowing Donald Trump personally, I think he believes he is invincible and that he can get away with anything, and even though this was a likely outcome, I don’t think he ever thought it would happen,” she said.
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She added that with the appeals process and the presidential election just five months away, he could “get away with it”.
Navarro said Trump’s conviction was long overdue and that today was a solemn but well-deserved day.
“This man has made my life hell for four years, he has made my country hell for six years, and he must be held accountable,” Navarro said. “He’s been a Teflon Don his whole life. He’s been able to cheat, lie and commit crimes with impunity.”
Hostin compared the win to when the New York Knicks won the NBA Finals and said he wasn’t pessimistic at all.
Whoopi Goldberg will read the news of Donald Trump’s guilty verdict on “The View” on May 31, 2024. (The View / Screenshot)
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Following his conviction, Trump spoke from Trump Tower on Friday, slamming the trial, prosecutors and judge, and adding that he would appeal the verdict and continue to fight for his supporters. Trump did not answer questions from supporters. media.
