Whoopi Goldberg calls out Sunny Hostin’s interview question on The View

Whoopi Goldberg stepped in for a slight course correction after struggling with direction The view Co-host Sunny Hostin asked a specific interview question on Thursday’s live show.

Near the end of a multi-part interview with sports broadcaster Stephen A. Smith, the legal expert turned the conversation to Smith’s potential political ambitions.

“I understand you’ve been asked about running for political office in the future, and some people have said they could see you running for president,” the 56-year-old said. “Would you do that? Do you think you are qualified to run for president? I mean, the hurdle is pretty low anyway.”

Although it was unclear who, one of Hostin’s co-hosts could be heard gasping at the request, shortly before Goldberg interrupted the discussion to demand a correction.

“I would, can you rephrase that?” Goldberg asked Hostin, who repeated herself: “I just think the bar is really low because [Donald] Trump really had no political experience and went from 0 to 100.” She also made it clear that “the bar is low” and that “anyone can run.”

Smith responded, emphasizing that he had said “hell no” to a possible presidential run “on many occasions.” “I live a pretty good life,” he said. “But I have to admit, I wish I could debate some of these people. I would love to be on the debate stage and take on these people with the presidency on the line.”

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Goldberg then joked, “Don’t say that, because we’ll arrange it.” Smith half-jokingly concluded his thought, saying that if he were told he had “a legitimate chance of winning the presidency,” he would “definitely consider” later.

The moment came amid a particularly eventful episode of The viewwhich also featured host and Alyssa Farah Griffin clashing over election issues early in the show, with Joy Behar’s cell phone interrupting the broadcast again while the co-hosts spoke.

The view airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on ABC.