Whoopi Goldberg found herself in an awkward exchange on The View after a financial expert challenged claims that Donald Trump’s economic policies have damaged the US economy.
The moment unfolded during Thursday’s episode of the long-running ABC talk show, where CNBC anchor Sara Eisen appeared as a guest co-host.
The panel had been discussing the state of the economy when Ms Goldberg, 70, appeared to suggest that markets are largely indifferent to who occupies the White House.
“It seems that the market doesn’t really pay attention to who is president… The market does what it does,” she said, in comments widely seen as a swipe at Mr Trump.
Whoopi Goldberg suggested that markets are largely indifferent to who occupies the White House
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The View
However, Ms Eisen, 41, immediately contradicted her.
“Actually, the market likes who’s president, I think,” the financial journalist responded.
A visibly surprised Ms Goldberg replied: “Really?” Meanwhile, co-host Sunny Hostin reacted with: “Oh, interesting.”
Ms Eisen went on to explain that there is “a lot of upbeat sentiment from companies and from investors about policies that are helpful for growth, like deregulation.”
The financial expert awkwardly corrected the host
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The View
The discussion then turned to Mr Trump’s controversial tariffs, which critics have long argued would spark inflation and economic instability.
Ms Hostin pressed Ms Eisen directly: “Do you think the tariffs are helpful for growth?”
Ms Eisen replied: “The tariffs usually wouldn’t be helpful for growth but they’re not as bad as everybody expected.”
Joy Behar interjected to argue that tariffs “help rich people” and “don’t help poor people or middle-income people”, drawing applause from the studio audience.
The guest co-host pushed back as debate over Trump’s economic record turned tense
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SUPPLIED
But Ms Eisen pointed out that predictions of economic collapse had not materialised.
“When the tariffs were announced, everyone thought it would be massive inflation and the market and the economy would fall apart and it hasn’t,” she said.
“Some companies have absorbed it. You know what? They’ve never been more profitable right now, but they also like the tax bill.”
As the exchange grew more heated, Ms Hostin argued that market gains primarily benefit the wealthy, adding: “If you’re wealthy, it’s great. If you’re middle class or under the middle class, it’s not good at all.”
Ms Eisen suggested that wider participation in retirement savings schemes such as 401(k)s could give more Americans exposure to the markets, prompting Ms Hostin to respond that minimum wage workers often lack such access.
With tensions rising, Ms Goldberg stepped in to bring the conversation to a close.
“Sorry about that, it’s very rare that we get to sit with a financial person,” she said.
Clips of the exchange quickly circulated on social media, where viewers were sharply divided.
Whoopie Goldberg
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GETTY
“Truth has no place on that show,” one viewer wrote, while another said: “Goldberg just spews hatred for every topic regardless of the facts being true or not.”
A third added: “How this show is even still on the air is really quite frightening.”
A fourth commented: “The View is too dumb to know about the economy.”
However, others sided with Ms Goldberg.
One viewer wrote: “You MAGA simps are really dense. What she cited about the stock market is true, but it was a deflection away from the pocketbook concerns of everyday Americans. Trump hasn’t done squat to reverse their fortunes as the November midterm elections will make crystal clear.”
