Hostin Responds To Trump Report
On Monday’s episode of The View, co-host Sunny Hostin addressed the growing issue of political violence in America, pointing to a shocking poll result that highlights just how deep the problem runs.
Referring to a University of Chicago poll released in July, Hostin noted that 10% of Americans—around 26 million people—believe violence is justified to prevent Donald Trump from regaining the presidency. Hostin, a vocal critic of Trump, expressed her outrage, calling the statistic “despicable” and lamenting the normalization of political violence in the country.
“What’s disturbing to me is that there is more support for violence today against Trump,” Hostin said. “Ten percent of American adults think it’s OK.” She emphasized that this number translates to millions of Americans willing to endorse violence, a reality that’s hard to ignore given the recent second assassination attempt on Trump’s life.
The chilling details from the poll don’t stop there. Of the 26 million Americans who support the use of force to block Trump’s return to the White House, nine million reportedly have firearms, and 22 million have access to organizational tools through the internet. The data paints a troubling picture of just how many people could potentially mobilize in the name of political violence.
Hostin's comments came on the heels of a Sunday assassination attempt at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course. The alleged assailant, Ryan Wesley Routh, was caught by Secret Service agents after they spotted the barrel of an AK-47-style rifle poking through the shrubbery about 300 yards from where Trump was playing. Routh, who fled the scene but was quickly arrested, appeared in federal court Monday morning on charges of firearm possession by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
While Hostin condemned violence against anyone, she wasn’t alone in calling out the broader issue. Co-host Sara Haines weighed in, pointing to the dangerous rhetoric that fuels this kind of behavior. “The way our politicians are speaking right now, we never would have seen that 20 years ago,” Haines argued.
She emphasized that social media and technology have worsened the situation, allowing inflammatory rhetoric to trickle down from politicians to the general public, creating an environment where extreme actions are increasingly justified.
Ana Navarro added to the conversation, shifting the focus to the weapons used in such attacks. She highlighted the need for serious discussions about assault weapons and how easily people with mental health issues can access them. “The last assassination attempt was an AR-15. This one was an AK-47. We need to have that conversation,” Navarro insisted.
Hostin, however, pushed back slightly, suggesting that the issue might run even deeper than just mental health. “Maybe it’s less about mental health and more about America’s fascination with guns,” she remarked, pointing to a broader cultural problem.