‘The View’ Adds Two New Conservatives—Ex-Trump Staffer Griffin And ‘Never Trumper’ Navarro—To Bench

Topline

Political and hot topics talk show The View added two conservative personalities to its roster—a former Trump staffer and a “never Trumper”— it was announced on-air Thursday.

Key Facts

Frequent guest host Ana Navarro, who is a Republican but is highly critical of former President Donald Trump, will join the show as a permanent co-host, though according to The Wrap, she will only appear on Mondays and Fridays, as she also works as a commentator on CNN.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, who worked as White House director of strategic communications during the Trump administration, will also join the show’s 26th season in the fall as a co-host.

Griffin resigned after Trump lost the 2020 election, and has publicly criticized him after the January 6 insurrection.

As it was reported last month that Griffin was a finalist for the co-host position, Navarro was said to be disappointed she did not receive the full-time gig.

Key Background

Griffin and Navarro will join Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin and Sara Haines. They’ll fill the conservative gap at the table left by Meghan McCain, who was on the show during the Trump administration and left in season 24. McCain has since described her time on the long-running daytime show as “toxic work environment.”

Tangent

Recent conservative co-hosts have not had long tenures on the show. McCain lasted from 2017 to 2021, Abby Hunstman served as a co-host from 2018 to 2020, Jedediah Bila appeared from 2016 to 2017 and Full House star Candace Cameron Bure held the seat from 2015 to 2016. Elizabeth Hasselbeck was on the show from 2003 to 2013, one of the longest stints for a conservative in the show’s 25-year history. She was fired after being told the show was heading in a “less political direction, and then briefly joined Fox & Friends.

Further Reading

The View’ to Name Ana Navarro & Alyssa Farah Griffin as Co-Hosts for Season 26 (Variety)

‘The View’ Taps Former Trump Staffer Alyssa Farah Griffin as Conservative Co-Host (Variety)