‘The View’ Hosts Believe Trump’s COVID-19 Diagnosis is “A Grave, Grave Danger” to the Country

It may be a Friday, but The View isn’t in weekend mode quite yet. This morning, the women of the ABC talk show tackled the biggest story of the day (nay, the month): President Donald Trump‘s positive COVID-19 diagnosis. While they may not be the world’s biggest Trump supporters, the co-hosts offered the president and the first lady well wishes, with Joy Behar saying, “As with anyone who has contracted the virus, we wish them nothing but a fast recovery.” 

Late Thursday night, Trump announced on Twitter that he and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for COVID-19 and will begin quarantining immediately. News of the president’s diagnosis came just a few hours after top aide Hope Hicks tested positive after traveling with him on Air Force One on Tuesday. “We will get through this TOGETHER!” tweeted Trump overnight.

“There’s only one Hot Topic today to talk about,” said Behar at the top of Friday’s broadcast. “Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the coronavirus.”

In a surprising move, the vocal Trump critic wished them a speedy recovery before turning the discussion over to Sunny Hostin, who said that she’s “concerned not only for him and his family but for our country.” Hostin explained that “the last thing you want is for the president of your country to contract a deadly disease,” as “it becomes a national security issue.”

“This is a grave, grave danger to the president,” she continued. “We know that he’s 74. He’s obese … This is just really very, very serious.”

Guest co-host Ana Navarro agreed, adding that she hopes Trump’s positive COVID-19 diagnosis will remind Americans that “this is still very much a very serious threat” to public health. She went on to praise Joe Biden for “expressing his concern” and “offering prayers” to Trump, an act that she believes sets “exactly the right tone” with the election just one month away.

“This is a very serious illness. We should not wish it on anybody, on any American, on any human. It is a threat for all of us,” said Navarro. “But that doesn’t mean we don’t recognize how badly he mishandled this virus. That he has not worn a mask. That he has made fun of Joe Biden for wearing a mask. Both things — many Americans like me are feeling both things. We want him to get better. I want him to lose, but I don’t want him to suffer any harm.”

Behar closed out the discussion with a message for Trump. “It would be a good idea for him to come out and say, ‘I have been wrong,'” said the outspoken co-host, before reading off a series of statements in which the president dismissed concerns about the virus. “It would be really great if he spoke to the American people and said, ‘You know what? You can’t fight science. Science is correct.'”

Watch The View‘s co-hosts discuss Trump’s positive COVID-19 diagnosis above.

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