Meghan McCain fired back after Ana Navarro — her former cohost on ABC’s “The View” — appeared to toss a barb at her from the Hot Topics table on Thursday, accusing her of profiting from “influence peddling” in the same way that President Joe Biden’s embattled son Hunter had.
McCain, who left the show in 2021 due to what she called a “toxic” environment on set, took to X to fire back after Navarro made several pointed comments during the midday talk show’s broadcast.
“I don’t understand why my former colleagues @TheView @ABC bring me up and slander me on an almost weekly basis,” McCain posted. “It has been years — move on, I have.”
McCain went on to draw a clear line of distinction between her own life and that of Hunter Biden — who is currently at the center of a probe into alleged business dealings with foreign actors and multiple members of the Biden family, the president included.
“I have never been accused of a crime in my life and am a patriotic American — I would never and have never ‘influenced peddled’ in my life, let alone with foreign adversaries. Not all politicians’ children are the same — and I am no Hunter Biden,” McCain concluded, suggesting that her next step might be to pursue legal action. “All accusations are absurd, defamatory and slanderous. I will be consulting my lawyers regarding what was libeled against me on The View this morning.”
I don’t understand why my former colleagues @TheView @ABC bring me up and slander me on an almost weekly basis. It has been years – move on, I have.
I have never been accused of a crime in my life and am a patriotic American – I would never and have never “influenced peddled”…
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) December 14, 2023
“‘@TheView’ is an @ABC News program. I do not take it lightly when any news program suggests I engage in criminal behavior, especially as a former employee of ABC News,” she added.
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.@TheView is an @ABC News program. I do not take it lightly when any news program suggests I engage in criminal behavior, especially as a former employee of ABC News.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) December 14, 2023
McCain was responding to Navarro’s claim that “influence peddling” was so common that even some at “The View” were guilty of it — and although she did not say McCain’s name aloud, the other cohosts immediately seemed to know who she meant.
WATCH:
The View's Ana Navarro, who defends Senator Menendez and brags about introducing him to her "wealthy clients," seems to suggest past co-hosts of the show @MeghanMcCain and @HuntsmanAbby trade on their family names like Hunter Biden. https://t.co/oQtGhLrAK9
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) December 14, 2023
Navarro began by claiming that Joe Biden’s only crime was being a “loving father” who took good care of Hunter. Then she conceded that Hunter Biden had profited off the Biden family name — but argued that it was not a serious issue since plenty of others had also done so.
“Look, did Hunter Biden influence-peddle on his last name? Yes, he did. So did half of Washington. People sitting at this table did it!” Navarro practically shouted.
Alyssa Farah-Griffin, the show’s newest cohost, asked, “Who at this table peddled on their last name?”
“I’m not talking about currently,” Navarro said, prompting a series of gasps and laughter from the other cohosts and the audience — which many viewers interpreted as a shot at McCain.
“‘The View’ throws shade at former co-host Meghan McCain for influence peddling, without even mentioning her by name,” NBC’s Mike Sington commented.
“People sitting at this table did it!” The View throws shade at former co-host Meghan McCain for influence peddling, without even mentioning her by name. (Video: ABC) pic.twitter.com/6eyFwhYQ3R
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) December 14, 2023