Behar Takes Heat Over Controversial Comments
On Tuesday, "The View" co-host Joy Behar sparked controversy on social media after suggesting that President Joe Biden may not win the 2024 election if former President Donald Trump is not defeated through legal intervention.
Behar's statement came in response to former presidential candidate and Congressman Joe Walsh's tweet, where he admitted that while he personally believes Trump committed insurrection, he finds the 14th Amendment "insurrection ban" vague and likely to be overturned by the Supreme Court. Walsh also predicted that the recent Colorado Supreme Court ruling, which banned Trump's name from appearing on the state's 2024 ballot, would strengthen Trump politically and asserted that the only way to defeat him is through the ballot box.
However, Behar disagreed with Walsh's take and suggested that legal action is the only way to defeat the former president. "Joe, the ballot box can't compete with the third party candidates who will take votes from Joe Biden. And let us not forget the electoral college. The law must defeat him," she tweeted.
Behar's statement immediately sparked intense backlash on social media, with many criticizing her for promoting a dangerous and undemocratic view. Some accused her of trying to overthrow democracy by using the courts to eliminate a potential candidate, while others argued that her stance would only serve to strengthen Trump's following.
One user wrote, "'Save democracy by using the courts to eliminate a candidate!' - is an odd take," while another argued that Behar's rhetoric would only drive voters into the arms of Trump. "I love it when you people expose who you are. You are everything you fear in Trump. Keep posting. It builds the #WalkAway movement. Thanks again. It was people like you that made me dig deeper and see the lies," they tweeted.
Many commenters also drew comparisons between Behar and a fascist, claiming that her views were hypocritical to her stance against Trump's alleged authoritarian tendencies.
This is a stark contrast to Behar's previous statements about a potential Trump presidency in 2024. In March, she confidently dismissed the former president and claimed he would not be a threat to the Democratic nominee. "DeSantis is what they call a dweeb. And Trump is the one who needs to get the nomination, because then the Democrats will win. He's a two-time loser already. Hellooooo! Loser!" she said on the show.
The Colorado Supreme Court's decision, which sparked Behar's comments, also received mixed reactions. While some hailed it as a necessary step to prevent Trump from potentially returning to power, others, including several Republicans, condemned it as an attack on democracy.
Ultimately, Behar's statement and the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling have reignited the ongoing debate about Trump's political future and the potential challenges he could pose to the democratic process in the upcoming years.