“The View” host Joy Behar drew a shocked reaction from her audience after she made a comment on East Palestine, Ohio, residents’ support for former President Donald Trump.
Trump has faced criticism for rolling back rail safety regulations during his administration following a Norfolk Southern train derailment that caused a toxic chemical spill ― and a later burn of chemicals ― that worried the Ohio community earlier this month.
Trump, who received overwhelming support from East Palestine’s Columbiana County in the 2020 election, appeared in the community on Wednesday, where he hyped up the quality of his Trump water brand.
Behar questioned whether “photo-ops and blame games” overshadowed the crisis in the Ohio community. She criticized Trump’s water plug and grilled his appointment of someone with ties to the chemical industry to run the EPA’s chemical safety office when he was president.
“That’s who you voted for in that district,” said Behar as she pointed to the camera.
“Donald Trump, who reduces all safety. ... They need to look past the photo-ops, these people, and say ‘Who’s doing the job here?’ Forget about the photo-ops.”
Meghan McCain, a former co-host of “The View,” later blasted Behar on Twitter over the remarks.
“The people of east Palestine are currently in fear that they and their children will be getting cancer or worse from the derailment toxins in their land and water,” McCain said. “This is just an evil thing to say. I would say I can’t fathom this level of cruelty and elitism but sadly… I can.”
Former Republican Rep. Joe Walsh initially slammed Behar for having a “shitty thing to say” before he apologized to “The View” host and claimed he read a Mediaite article wrong.