On a recent episode of “The View,” co-host Sara Haines voiced her concerns about the Democratic Party’s efforts to disqualify former President Donald Trump from appearing on state ballots for the 2024 presidential election. Haines suggested that these actions could unintentionally reinforce perceptions of a “rigged election” and exacerbate political divisions.
Maine’s Secretary of State, Democrat Shenna Bellows, recently made headlines by ruling that Trump is barred from running for president in Maine, citing his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot as “engaging in insurrection.” Bellows has insisted that her decision was not politically motivated, a stance she reiterated in an NPR interview.
This decision follows a similar ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court, which also removed Trump from the state’s primary ballot. Both decisions are expected to be appealed, as reported by the Associated Press.
During the discussion on “The View,” Haines aligned herself with the opinions of prominent Democrats like California Governor Gavin Newsom and former Obama adviser David Axelrod, who have argued that the best way to oppose Trump is through the electoral process rather than legal or administrative maneuvers. Haines expressed her belief that voters should have the final say in denying Trump re-election, and she predicted that the U.S. Supreme Court would unanimously overturn these state rulings.
Haines cautioned that these efforts to exclude Trump from ballots could further fuel the narrative of a compromised democratic process, thereby intensifying national divisions. She argued that such actions might elevate Trump to a position of “martyrdom” among his supporters, potentially undermining public faith in democracy and voting.
In contrast, Joy Behar, a noted critic of Trump, disagreed with Haines. Behar emphasized the importance of adhering to the law, using a rhetorical question about Taylor Swift running for president to underline her point. She expressed her belief that legal mechanisms should be utilized to counter Trump, citing the potential influence of third-party candidates and the electoral college on the outcome of the election. Behar has previously conveyed similar sentiments on social media, emphasizing the need for legal action against Trump.
Co-host Sunny Hostin also supported the decisions of Maine and Colorado, referring to them as rooted in “black-letter Constitutional law.” These contrasting views on “The View” reflect the broader debate about the best approach to handle Trump’s potential candidacy and the implications for American democracy.