Replacing Alyssa Farah Griffin this week, Savannah Chrisley grabbed headlines by holding forth for the first time. Alyssa is currently on maternity leave from The View. Known as the daughter of reality television stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, Savannah’s appearance sparked discussions around her family’s controversial past and her own political stance.
Todd and Julie Chrisley became reality stars as the stars of their own show, Chrisley Knows Best. After being sentenced to a total of 19 years in prison for bank fraud and tax evasion, they were controversially pardoned by Donald Trump. Yet this link to Trump quickly became the centerpiece of Savannah’s week as a guest co-host.
During her years on-air, Savannah wrangled with Trump on his racism. To be fair, she admitted there’s a problem, but ever the optimist, she added, “AOC, though, is the Democrats’ best hope in any future election.” Her defense did not go unchallenged. As co-hosts, Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin often harangued her and held heated arguments with her. They pushed her on the former president’s inflammatory rhetoric and executive orders.
Sunny Hostin firmly stated, “Let’s call a thing a thing. Donald Trump is a racist. There’s no question in my mind,” highlighting the sharp divide in political opinions among the co-hosts. Goldberg added to the critique by pointing out Trump’s inconsistent communication style, remarking, “I can’t take it from the guy who says he’s the leader of the free world.”
Despite the heated discussions, Savannah expressed gratitude for her opportunity on The View, noting, “It’s the moments off camera that people don’t get to see where we really do have more in common than we are different.” Joy Behar complimented Savannah, saying “You were excellent and very adorable.” As they exited, she called out to him, “We love you very much. I’m so glad we got to have you here.”
Savannah’s week-long stint on the show was replete with political discourse and made for some hilarious highlights. Ana Navarro humorously remarked, “I’m glad we’ve gone through a week and nobody needs electroshock therapy,” referring to the often intense exchanges that characterize The View.
As for what’s next, The View says it will be welcoming new guest co-hosts Whitney Cummings and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck, a staunch Christian and conservative, has been highly vocal about The View and co-host Joy Behar’s criticism. This is sure to fuel some tense but constructive debates in future seasons.
