From Fox News: Co-hosts of “The View,” a show known for staunch liberal stances like criticizing gun advocacy, found themselves defending the Second Amendment as a check to government power after the killing of Alex Pretti,
As the show discussed the shooting death of the 37-year-old on Saturday by Border Patrol agents, a clip of Homeland Security Secretary Noem was shown where she said, “I don’t know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign.” Pretti was carrying a gun at the time of the incident but appeared to be disarmed before he was fatally shot.
After co-host Whoopi Goldberg accused Noem and other public officials of lying about the nature of the incident, co-host Sunny Hostin agreed.
“I think your point is extremely important because we see now that the government lies to the American people, and they also flout the Second Amendment and Minnesota law,” Hostin said. “Because Alex Pretti, while he did have a concealed weapon, he had a permit—”
“He was allowed to carry it,” Goldberg agreed.
“There is no question that you can protest, exercising your First Amendment right to peacefully assemble in Minnesota, while having that handgun,” Hostin said.
Co-host Sara Haines informed the panel that an ex-boyfriend of hers carried his firearm legally everywhere, as he had the proper license, but also recalled a historical fact about the Second Amendment: “The birth of the Second Amendment was about the people being able to protect themselves in case the government was to turn on them.”
“It’s for this very same thing,” Hostin chimed.
“Exactly what’s happening right now,” Haines continued. “I’m guessing he carries this wherever he goes, whatever, but this is a prime example of what people were allowed to protect themselves against was to carry that weapon.”
Ironically, The View has a long record of criticizing gun rights and questioning the Second Amendment. While Hostin defended the amendment on Monday’s episode as a check on government power, she took a different stance in 2021, claiming—based on a book she read—that “the right to bear arms was designed to protect slavery” by enabling militias to suppress slave revolts.
In 2022, Goldberg drew a comparison between abortion and gun rights after the Uvalde school shooting, arguing that if abortion rights could be taken away, Republicans should expect restrictions on AR-15s as well, while allowing that hunting firearms could be reasonable.
“OK, you can have your [shotgun] but you can’t have your AR-15. If you are going to get all in my business and tell me what my family can and cannot do, neither can you. They’re going to come for those AR-15s and you better get ready to give them up,” she said. “Because this is America. We were supposed to be able to do things and be the people we wanted to be, and now we are in a crazy place.”
In 2024, after the assassination attempt on President Trump in Butler, Pa., the co-hosts of “The View” suggested America’s “obsession” with owning guns is the problem.
“I say now is the time to talk about the common denominator when it came to this assassination attempt, is America’s fascination and obsession with owning guns,” Hostin said after condemning political violence. She then also claimed she feared the incident would spark rhetoric about needing more “good guys with guns.”
“My jaw was on the floor hearing some of the most senior Trump officials basically denying the existence of the Second Amendment.”@AlyssaFarah reacts to gun rights groups speaking out after Trump administration officials criticized Alex Pretti for legally carrying a gun when he… pic.twitter.com/PkEpD302bW
— The View (@TheView) January 26, 2026
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