Who Should Replace Meghan McCain on ‘The View’?

After four seasons on the hit talk show, co-host Meghan McCain announced her exit from The View on this morning’s episode. The conservative co-host, who first joined the ABC series in 2017, will be leaving the show at the end of this month, she revealed to her co-hosts and View audience.

“This was not an easy decision,” McCain said, explaining that the pandemic factored into her decision to leave. “It took a lot of thought and counsel and prayer and talking to my family and my close friends,” she said. “And you know, look: Covid has changed the world for all of us and it changed the way at least, for me, the way I am looking at life, the way I am living my life, the way I want my life to look like.”

With McCain stepping away from The View to spend more time in the D.C. area with her family, fans are already speculating who could be next to take her newly empty spot on the popular series. After the news broke this morning, Twitter lit up with possible suggestions, ranging from Randy Rainbow to Yvette Nicole Brown, but with most viewers suggesting a fellow conservative to fill the empty seat.

One name that popped up most often was Ana Navarro, the republican political strategist who frequently fills in on The View when co-hosts like McCain or Whoopi Goldberg are out. While Navarro has spent plenty of time on The View, she also works CNN, ABC News, and more. “I tuned in just to confirm this was true and I’m so excited that I will be able to watch my favorite talk show once again. Now please bring Ana on permanently,” one fan wrote.

Others suggested the controversial author and conservative political commentator Candace Owens could be up for the spot. Owens, who has been wrapped up in scandals for remarks she’s made in the past about Black Lives Matter protestors, abortion, and immigration, would be a bold and disruptive pick for the show, a point plenty of viewers made while speculating she could be on the list of McCain’s potential replacements.

“The View should invite Candace Owens as a conservative voice–it’d be a ratings boon but I’d definitely tune in for the sh*t show and drama of it all!” one wrote.

Another replied, “Candace would be the absolutely WORST choice… I would never watch the show if she was a regular co-host on The View and then I’d be saying ‘Bring Back Meghan.'”

Other names floating around included Tomi Lahren, the former TV host and pro-Trump political commentator, or former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany. Some even called out other fans for celebrating McCain’s exit, arguing one of the women could be next in her seat.
“Y’all celebrating Meghan McCain leaving The View like Tomi Lahren isn’t gonna be the replacement,” one tweeted.

While ABC has yet to announce a replacement for McCain, she will remain on the show through the end of the month, wrapping up her four-season run when July comes to a close. In a statement released after McCain’s announcement this morning, ABC News expressed support for her decision.

“For the past four years, Meghan McCain has brought her fierce determination and vast political knowledge and experience to The View. She recently came to us with her decision to depart the show at the end of this season, a difficult choice that she made for her and her family that we respect and understand,” they wrote. “We wish the best for Meghan as she plans her next chapter, and thank her for the passion and unique voice that she shared with us and our viewers each day.”

The View airs weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.

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