In a surprising turn of events, Joy Behar, co-host of “The View,” expressed her admiration for Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley during a recent panel discussion. Behar commended Haley for “serving a purpose” by challenging former President Donald Trump in the 2024 primary.
While discussing Haley’s candidacy, Behar acknowledged her appreciation for the politician, stating, “Look, I like her.” This declaration caught her fellow co-host Sunny Hostin off guard, prompting her to inquire, “What?” Behar went on to explain that she appreciates Haley’s actions, even though she may not agree with all of her policies. She also pointedly remarked about the contrast between Haley and Trump, joking that at least Haley wouldn’t be “governing from Cell Block 11.”
Behar further emphasized the significance of Haley’s role, comparing it to Chris Christie’s purpose in challenging Trump during the previous election. She highlighted the impact of needling and punching Trump, suggesting that it exposes his insecurities and reveals his true character. Behar drew upon past incidents, such as Trump’s attacks on Rosie O’Donnell, to illustrate his hypersensitivity to criticism.
It is worth noting that, apart from Alyssa Farah Griffin, the co-hosts of “The View” have been predominantly critical of Haley throughout her presidential campaign. Hostin, in particular, has been a staunch opponent of Haley, frequently clashing with Griffin over their differing views. Hostin has accused Haley of hypocrisy, alleging that she only removed the Confederate flag in South Carolina due to external pressure and refused to acknowledge slavery as a cause of the Civil War because of her predominantly white Republican base.
Additionally, Hostin has accused Haley of concealing her Indian heritage by using her middle name, Nikki, instead of her given name, Nimrata. Hostin claimed that Haley deliberately kept her true identity hidden to appeal to her Republican supporters. It is worth mentioning that Haley has used her middle name since childhood, which translates to “little one” in the Indian language and is customary in the Punjab region of India.
In a separate segment, Behar criticized Haley, associating her with the alleged “right-wing” extremism and baselessly accusing her of promoting Trump’s false claims of election fraud in 2020. Hostin joined in, labeling Haley a “political grifter” and a “chameleon.” Co-host Whoopi Goldberg also expressed her disapproval, admonishing Haley for criticizing Americans who believe that the nation’s founding principles are rooted in racism and evil.
Behar’s praise for Nikki Haley has deviated from the prevailing sentiment among her co-hosts. This unexpected support reflects the diversity of viewpoints on “The View” and underscores the complexity of Haley’s presidential campaign.
