During Tuesday’s episode of ABC's "The View," the debate took a decidedly personal turn as hosts Sunny Hostin and Whoopi Goldberg suggested that political divides—specifically around former President-elect Donald Trump—might be cause for keeping some family members at arm's length during holiday gatherings.
Calling it a "moral issue," Hostin and Goldberg advocated for choosing holiday guests carefully, particularly where family members’ beliefs might clash.
The discussion opened with host Sara Haines, who disagreed with cutting ties over political differences. Haines argued that, no matter her relatives' political views, family ties should ultimately trump political disagreements. "Whatever your reason is, I would never let my politics be the reason I don’t show up to see my family because they want me to be there,” she said, emphasizing a need for unity despite ideological divides.
But Hostin saw things differently. She argued that Trump, in her view, represented a unique case, one that crossed a moral threshold she couldn’t ignore.
“From the things he’s said and the things he’s done, and the things he will do, it’s more of a moral issue for me, and I think it’s more of a moral issue for other people,” she said, contrasting her views on Trump with those on former President George W. Bush, who she acknowledged had faced criticism but was, in her opinion, “not as deeply flawed.”
Sunny Hostin says people shouldn't visit family for the holidays if they voted for Trump because "it's a moral issue" and they voted "against people that they love."
"I really do feel that this candidate, you know, President-elect Trump is a different type of candidate." pic.twitter.com/NCb7QJSWch— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) November 12, 2024
The dialogue shifted further when Goldberg joined in, expressing concerns about family gatherings where relatives might say things that could alienate or hurt her own family members. She highlighted the possibility of family dynamics where a relative’s conservative views might clash sharply with the identity or experiences of other family members, particularly if a child’s sexuality or gender identity came under fire.
“I don’t want to put my gay child in a position where she has to sit with someone who doesn’t understand her,” Goldberg explained, underscoring that the potential for insensitivity could be a valid reason to make alternate holiday plans.
In a nation that has grown increasingly polarized, especially in recent election cycles, the hosts' discussion hit on a sentiment that resonates for many Americans, though not always in the same direction.
For some, family traditions are sacrosanct, spaces where differences are set aside in favor of shared heritage. For others, the polarization has brought irreconcilable tensions to the surface, prompting some to question whether to prioritize family connections or personal convictions.