Whoopi Goldberg threw out a legal correction from production staff after making an autopen “joke” about President Trump on “The View.”
Before the outrage, Goldberg was discussing Trump’s appearance on CBS’s “60 Minutes” with her co-stars on Monday’s episode of the ABC talk show.
Sunny Hostin addressed President Trump’s remarks during a sit-in that he knew nothing about the pardon of Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Chao, despite the fact that he pardoned a convicted cryptocurrency billionaire last month.
“The Trump family has gotten about $1.8 billion out of this government, and Joe Biden used an autopen to say he didn’t know who he was pardoning,” Hostin said, noting that Biden’s staff used an autopen to sign several pardons in the final moments of his presidency.
“How do you not know who this person is?” Hostin asked about Trump, to which Goldberg joked, “Because he used an autopen.”
An autopen is a machine that reproduces a person’s signature using a pen or pencil attached to a mechanical arm. This device is used to sign documents in bulk.
The co-hosts went off topic and had a new conversation when Hostin was seen slipping a piece of paper for Goldberg to read.
“What the hell? What?” Goldberg said in shock before reading the note aloud. “We don’t know if President Trump used an autopen for his pardon.”
Goldberg, 69, said angrily, “You’re kidding!” before tearing the note to shreds.
“I’m sorry. The hardest thing about this job right now is that no one understands the nuances,” Goldberg complained. “I can tell when I hear a joke, when someone is fooling around, when they aren’t saying something specific.”
Goldberg believes it’s clear she’s joking and the audience will know when she’s serious.
“Especially on this show. I’m very specific when I point out things,” she said. “When I’m joking, you know when I’m joking. This is ridiculous.”
The note Hostin gave Whoopi came directly from the show’s production team, Page Six confirmed.
A representative for “The View” did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Staffers may have been playing it safe after ABC’s recent layoffs, when the Post reported that women on “The View” were told to tone down their criticism of Trump on air.
In February, officials claimed tensions on the show were high after the show’s executive producer, Brian Teta, told staff to “moderate” Trump-related discussions ahead of the inauguration.
Insiders close to Mr. Goldberg, Mr. Hostin, Joy Behar, Sarah Haines, Alyssa Farrar Griffin and Ana Navarro also told the Post that morale has suffered amid cost-cutting efforts.
“Everyone is waiting for the other shoe to drop,” a source said at the time.
Some broadcast networks are nervous as President Trump continues to pressure the FCC to impose fines.
Last year, ABC News had to pay Trump a $16 million settlement over Good Morning America’s George Stephanopoulos’ on-air comments. CBS News also paid Trump a $16 million settlement.
