Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Joy Behar Throw Down in Front of ‘The View’s Empty Audience

The View may have gone without an audience on Wednesday in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, but that didn’t stop the show from coming off the rails. In the first segment, guest co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck treated viewers to a blast from the past when she threw down with Joy Behar over Trump’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. When Hasselbeck said that Trump has taken “early, strong, bold actions” against coronavirus, Behar disagreed. “He’s not going to be reelected because of this,” she said. “I’m not listening to Dr. Bone Spurs!”

This morning, The View followed the example of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy and taped live without a studio audience out of an abundance of caution for coronavirus exposure. “It’s a historic day on The View,” said moderator Whoopi Goldberg, explaining that this was the first time the ABC daytime staple had ever aired without an audience.

Of course, today was special for another reason, as well: this morning, former co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who filled the panel’s conservative seat from 2003 to 2013, returned to the table as a guest host. Things got off to a jovial start, but the discussion quickly took a turn when Hasselbeck said that we should “pray that this coronavirus is extinguished” and praised Trump’s response to the viral outbreak. “We shouldn’t be in a state of panic because what we’re doing, and taking cues from our president, is talking early, strong, bold actions to keep this at bay as much as we possibly can right now,” said the former co-host of The View.

Hasselbeck started to say that she feels “comfortable and confident because of strong leadership” from Trump, but she was quickly interrupted by Behar and Sunny Hostin. “Yeah, I have to disagree with you on that one,” said Hostin. “Where’s his strong leadership? He has told us nothing of any importance,” added Behar.

The three went back and forth, with Hasselbeck arguing that Trump is “proposing a middle class tax halt” and Hostin countering with statistics about paid sick leave. “He’s not going to get reelected because of this,” said Behar, to which Hasselbeck insisted that “we have real leadership” in the White House.

When Behar noted that Trump came in contact with multiple high-ranking Republicans who have since self-quarantined (yesterday’s main discussion point), Hasselbeck finally came out swinging. “Have you gotten tested?” she asked. “Why?”

“I think we should prepare. I think we should pray. I’m not going to let coronavirus rule me and let it be an idol,” continued the conservative firebrand. “I’m not listening to Dr. Bone Spurs!” replied Behar, holding up her hand. “I’m not!”

It takes a lot to unseat Meghan McCain as The View‘s most dramatic co-host, but Elisabeth Hasselbeck has done it. Get this woman a medal or something.

Watch Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Joy Behar throw down over coronavirus in the clip above.

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