ABC’s “The View” faced backlash on Monday after a couple of the co-hosts on show suggested that former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) should be investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly being a “Russian propagandists and shilling for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”
“I think that’s an incredibly relevant question. And I think DOJ in the same way that it is setting up a task force to investigate oligarchs should look into people who are Russian propagandists and shilling for Putin, that’s being if you are a foreign asset to a dictator, it should be investigated,” co-host Ana Navarro said. “In fact, I remember when Tulsi Gabbard, and I even hate that we’re discussing it because I think to myself, who was this woman? She’s a, you know, she’s no longer in Congress. She’s a failed presidential candidate. She only practically exists on Twitter. And the fact that we’re giving her oxygen is what makes her relevant, that we’re talking about her on our topics. But on the other hand, how do you not call out something that is repeating false Russian propaganda that has been brought down?”
Co-host Whoopi Goldberg quickly chimed in, saying, “They used to arrest people for doing stuff like this, if they thought you were colluding with a Russian agent, if they thought you were putting out information or taking information and handing over to Russia.”
“They used to actually investigate stuff like this,” Goldberg continued. “And I guess now, you know, there seems to be no bars and people are not being told to hate Putin. Putin doesn’t need a reason to be hated. It’s pretty much clear.
WATCH:
This is so deranged. The View calling for Tucker and Tulsi to be investigated by DOJ and suggest prison. pic.twitter.com/t96QRUVKrb
— Watchdog (@LibWatchdog) March 14, 2022
Notable responses included:
- Mark Hemingway, RealClearInvestigations: “This is just crazy. Whoopi basically endorses McCarthyism here.”
- David Reaboi, political commentator: “Keep going, libs. See what you get.”
- Tom Fitton, Judicial Watch: “The Left is always thinking up reasons to jail their political opponents.”
- Dave Rubin, podcast host: “Whoopi basically just called for @TulsiGabbard to be arrested. Every single woman at this table should be ashamed of themselves.”
TRANSCRIPT:
ANA NAVARRO, CO-HOST: I think that’s an incredibly relevant question. And I think DOJ in the same way that it is setting up a task force to investigate oligarchs should look into people who are Russian propagandists and shilling for Putin, that’s being if you are a foreign asset to a dictator, it should be investigated. In fact, I remember when Tulsi Gabbard, and I even hate that we’re discussing it because I think to myself, who was this woman? She’s a, you know, she’s no longer in Congress. She’s a failed presidential candidate. She only practically exists on Twitter. And the fact that we’re giving her oxygen is what makes her relevant, that we’re talking about her on our topics. But on the other hand, how do you not call out something that is repeating false Russian propaganda that has been brought down?
WHOOPI GOLDBERG: They used to arrest people for doing stuff like this, if they thought you were colluding with a Russian agent, if they thought you were putting out information or taking information and handing over to Russia. They used to actually investigate stuff like this. And I guess now, you know, there seems to be no bars and people are not being told to hate Putin. Putin doesn’t need a reason to be hated. It’s pretty much clear.