How Did This All Start?
The comment that Meghan, and now the entire country, is talking about occurred on an episode of ABC’s “The View” in early December 2023.
Source: @TheView/X
The topic of conversation was the controversy and court case surrounding Hunter Biden, President Biden’s son.
Hunter Biden Facing Serious Allegations
The hosts on “The View” were speaking about Hunter Biden’s current charges for federal crimes and, more specifically, whether or not he was in the wrong for essentially using his father’s name to get ahead.
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One host, Ana Navarro, essentially sided with the president’s son, saying that using his father’s name and fame to bend the rules and get what he wanted was nothing new in the political world.
What Exactly Did Ana Navarro Say?
But Ana didn’t stop there; her exact words, in fact, were, “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.”
Source: @TheView/X
When watching the clip, it’s clear that the other hosts, including Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin, and Sunny Hostin, were quite confused by the comment.
Ana Navarro Even Clarified the Inflammatory Statement
Because none of the women at the table were related to anyone in Washington, Ana’s comment was quite baffling.
Source: @ananavarro/X
But then, she explained that she wasn’t talking about someone who was “currently” sitting at “The View’s” round table.
Here’s Where the Story Gets Juicy
For those who don’t watch “The View,” it is a talk show on ABC with a panel of professional women who discuss important current events and issues. But the panel is always changing.
Source: Wikipedia
And Meghan McCain was once a resident host on the program from 2017 to 2021, famously reporting that working there was incredibly toxic when she quit.
It Was Immediately Clear Ana Was Talking About Meghan
As soon as she clarified her comment, it was clear to the other hosts, as well as fans of the show, that Ana was talking about Meghan McCain.
Source: YouTube
And while it may seem like an unimportant connection, it’s actually an extremely pointed accusation.
Breaking Down Ana’s Comment
Because Meghan McCain is the daughter of America’s former vice president, John McCain, saying that she used her name for personal gain is a huge and important accusation.
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Especially when comparing her to Hunter Biden, who has been charged with several federal crimes and is considered by many in the country to be a bona fide criminal.
Meghan’s Response to Ana’s Comment
Meghan wasted no time in responding to Ana Navarro’s comment against her. She posted on X shortly after the show aired, stating, “I don’t understand why my former colleagues @TheView @ABC bring me up and slander me.”
Source: @MeganMcCain/X
She continued: “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 — I am no Hunter Biden.”
Meghan Isn’t Stopping There
The final line of Meghan’s X post stated, “I will be consulting my lawyers regarding what was libeled against me on ‘The View’ this morning.”
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And while many believe that Meghan is certainly within her rights to sue for slander, others have noted that this response could have something to do with her personal feelings about Ana and “The View.”
Meghan’s Opinion on The View
Since quitting the show in 2021, Meghan has not been shy about sharing her experience and opinion about ABC’s talk show.
Source: YouTube
She told Variety in 2021, “My take on the problems of ‘The View’ are that it’s a show with a lot of demons that started in the beginning, and none of those demons have been exorcised,” and that the show has a “toxic work environment.”
Whatever the Reason, Meghan Isn’t Backing Down
Whether Meghan McCain is going for revenge or not, she isn’t backing down any time soon, and it seems that she won’t just be going after “The View” but for ABC as a whole.
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She wrote on X just after her original post, “@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.”