Outrage Explodes as MAGA Host Joins The View — Viewers Threaten Boycott

ABC’s long-running daytime juggernaut The View is facing a fresh wave of backlash after conservative media personality Savannah Chrisley stepped into the co-host chair this week — and some longtime viewers say they’re tuning out.

Chrisley, 28, made her debut Tuesday as a temporary co-host on the Hot Topics panel, filling in during Alyssa Farah Griffin’s maternity leave. Within minutes, social media lit up.

“I’ll be taking a hiatus until next week,” one Instagram user wrote. “Absolutely love this show but the bar has been lowered.”

Another viewer posted bluntly: “No. Just no. Considering what the country is going through, this is not it.”

On YouTube, where the episode was uploaded, the comment section turned into a battleground. Some viewers declared they would skip the entire week. Others warned the network about ratings.

“Ratings matter,” one commenter wrote. “You’re losing viewers with her on the show.”

ABC has not publicly addressed the backlash. But the reaction underscores how politically charged daytime television has become in 2026 — especially as cultural divisions remain front and center during President Donald Trump’s current term.

Chrisley, a vocal Trump supporter, did not shy away from the tension before stepping onto the set. In a post on X ahead of her appearance, she wrote, “I believe in sitting at tables with people who disagree with you and refusing to shrink your values to make others comfortable. I stand on faith, family, and freedom.”

She also made clear she hasn’t forgotten past criticism of her family.

“I have not forgotten the public bashing of my family by some of these same voices,” she wrote. “Grace does not require amnesia.”

The comment was widely interpreted as a reference to previous remarks made by The View regulars Joy Behar and Ana Navarro about her parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley.

The Chrisley family saga remains one of reality TV’s most dramatic political crossovers.

Savannah rose to fame on the USA Network hit Chrisley Knows Best, which followed her family’s lavish lifestyle. In 2022, her parents were convicted of federal bank fraud and tax evasion. In 2025, President Donald Trump granted them a full presidential pardon — a move that ignited fierce debate across the political spectrum.

On-air at The View, Behar blasted the pardon at the time, saying, “If you’re a reality star with a lot of money and you commit fraud, then that’s good — we’re going to give you a pardon.”

Savannah publicly thanked Trump for what she called “restoring our family.” Her advocacy for her parents during their legal battle helped cement her status as a rising conservative voice in media.

Despite the backlash this week, Chrisley framed her View appearance as a call for dialogue rather than division.

“Today was more than a seat at the table… it was a moment of purpose,” she wrote on Instagram after the show aired. “Four women who see the world one way, and one who sees it another — yet we sat together, we talked, we listened.”

She even revealed that she and Behar “shared laughs off camera that people will never see.”

“To those who have sent hate… I hear you. And I still choose love,” she added.

Not everyone is upset about her presence. Supporters flooded her pages with praise, calling her “brave” and applauding her willingness to step into what many consider a politically hostile space.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also weighed in, commenting on Instagram, “Love this look!”

For ABC, the controversy may cut both ways. Outrage can hurt ratings — but it can also drive curiosity.

Whether viewers truly boycott or simply tune in to watch the fireworks remains to be seen. One thing is clear: in today’s media landscape, even a temporary seat at The View table can spark a national debate.