The women of ABC’s The View have spent years criticizing President Donald Trump, but a surprising admission during a heated exchange with ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith revealed that they have apparently been trying to get him back on their show.
The unexpected revelation came during the October 21 broadcast, when Smith faced tough questions about his controversial dinner with Trump at the White House. What began as a discussion about political differences quickly turned into a challenge that left the daytime talk show’s co-hosts defending their willingness to confront the president face-to-face.
Smith had attended an October 15 dinner alongside comedian Bill Maher and musician Kid Rock, an unusual gathering that brought together outspoken personalities with sharply different political views.
The meeting immediately generated controversy, particularly among critics who questioned why Smith would agree to sit down with a president he has publicly criticized.
During his appearance on The View, moderator Whoopi Goldberg expressed frustration with Trump’s treatment of women, Black Americans and Latinos, arguing that his actions were difficult to defend.
Rather than retreat from the confrontation, Smith offered a suggestion that shifted the conversation.
“This is The View, invite him, see if he comes,” Smith challenged.
Co-host Ana Navarro immediately responded, “We’ve invited all of them.”
Sunny Hostin then turned the question back on Smith, suggesting that his recent contact with Trump put him in a position to help arrange an appearance.
“He calls you all the time; why don’t you tell him to come?” she asked.
Smith disputed that characterization, explaining that he had not spoken with Trump since 2014 before their recent White House dinner.
The exchange raised an intriguing possibility: Could Trump eventually return to one of television’s most outspoken anti-Trump panels?
Although Navarro claimed the show had extended invitations, she did not explain when those invitations were made or whether the president’s representatives had formally responded.
The admission was particularly striking considering Navarro’s comments just one day earlier. During the October 20 broadcast, she declared there was “no way in hell” she would share a meal with Trump, criticizing his administration’s immigration policies and rejecting the idea of normalizing his presidency.
Smith, however, made it clear that he views engaging with political opponents differently.
The outspoken sports commentator explained that he accepted Maher’s invitation because he wanted to raise several issues directly with the president, including unemployment among Black women, federal college sports legislation and financial support for historically Black colleges and universities.
Smith, a graduate of Winston-Salem State University, said he was particularly concerned that the administration’s opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives could discourage private donors from contributing to historically Black institutions.
According to Smith, Trump appeared receptive to those concerns and contacted him again after the dinner to revisit the discussion.
Whether those conversations will lead to any policy changes remains unclear, but Smith insisted that refusing to engage with the president would accomplish little.
“He’s the president of the United States, and I’ll be damned if I’m not going to try,” Smith told the panel.
He argued that Trump would remain a powerful figure throughout his presidency and that Americans who disagree with him still have an opportunity to advocate for their communities.
“I’m not apologizing for that to anybody,” Smith declared.
Meanwhile, longtime View co-host Joy Behar has also expressed interest in bringing Trump back to the program, despite her famously combative relationship with him.
In a recent interview with New York Magazine, Behar said she would welcome the chance to confront Trump directly.
“I’d love Donald Trump to take the heat,” she said.
But Behar also sparked controversy by questioning the 80-year-old president’s health, suggesting he appeared unwell and was “not long for this world.”
Her remarks prompted a furious response from the White House, with a spokesperson calling her a “talentless hack” and accusing her of suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” Behar’s comments were her personal assessment, not a confirmed medical finding.
The possibility of Trump returning to The View carries additional significance because he was once a familiar guest on the program, long before entering the White House.
During a memorable March 2011 appearance, Trump clashed with Goldberg, Behar and Barbara Walters over his repeated questions about then-President Barack Obama’s birth certificate. The confrontation became one of the show’s most widely discussed political interviews.
Now, more than 15 years later, the relationship between Trump and the daytime television personalities has become considerably more hostile.
Whether the president would consider facing the panel again remains an open question. But after Smith’s pointed challenge and the hosts’ unexpected admission, one thing is clear: A Trump appearance on The View would have no shortage of political fireworks.
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