'The View' takes shot at former host who used 'last name' for influence while defending Hunter Biden
Meghan McCain responded after clip that didn't explicitly mention her went viral
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}During Thursday’s episode of "The View," co-host Ana Navarro seemingly took shots at former co-host Meghan McCain while trying to make a point in defense of Hunter Biden’s accused influence peddling.
Downplaying that Hunter Biden used his famous last name to secure foreign business deals, Navarro joked that someone who used to sit at the "View" table did the same thing to bolster their career.
Navarro also shrugged off Hunter Biden’s recent indictment for tax evasion, stating that many Americans haven't paid their taxes and that only a small number actually get prosecuted.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CALLS GROW FOR CONGRESS TO SUBPOENA JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S FLIGHT LOGS DESPITE DEMOCRAT ‘STONEWALLING’
"The View" co-host Ana Navarro defended Hunter Biden from critics during a recent episode, claiming other people use their last names to peddle influence, and that others sometimes cheat on their taxes. (Screenshot/ABC)
The co-host’s comments came during a discussion about the younger Biden’s alleged corruption, following his refusal on Wednesday to comply with a congressional subpoena that could land him in contempt.
"Joe Biden’s crime is being Hunter Biden’s father and being Hunter Biden’s very loving father, very good father. Very supportive father," Navarro, a rabid White House supporter, said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Look, did Hunter Biden influence peddle on his last name? Yes, he did. So did half of Washington. People sitting at this table did it," she declared, as the crowd laughed at her last allegation.
Before Navarro could finish her next point, co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin asked her to elaborate: "Actually, who at this table peddled on their last name?"
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hunter Biden, son of President Biden, talks to reporters outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Giving an extra hint, Navarro replied, "I’m not talking about currently." Co-host Sunny Hostin burst out laughing as the panel realized who Navarro meant.
"We just wanted to clear our names," Farah Griffin said.
It seemed clear Navarro was talking about former conservative "View" co-host Meghan McCain, the daughter of late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who quit the show in 2021 and has said it was a toxic working environment.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}McCain responded on X shortly after the clip was shared online, saying she was "no Hunter Biden" and would consider taking legal action against the ABC program. She also mocked the show for remaining fixated on her years after she left the show, although Navarro and her co-hosts never explicitly named her on Thursday.
"I have never been accused of a crime in my life and am a patriotic American - I would never and have never 'influenced peddled' in my life, let alone with foreign adversaries. Not all politicians children are the same - and I am no Hunter Biden," she wrote. "All accusations are absurd, defamatory and slanderous. I will be consulting my lawyers regarding what was libeled against me on The View this morning."
Navarro went on to defend Hunter Biden by pointing out many Americans cheat on their taxes.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Did he use his last name to make money, to monetize on Joe Biden’s last name?" Navarro asked. "Yes, he did. That’s not a crime. Did Hunter Biden cheat on his taxes? Yes, he did. He has admitted it. He paid it back. He paid it back with $600,000 penalty… 15.5% of Americans cheat on their taxes, and you know how many get prosecuted? Less than 1%."