“The View” is in trouble. Viewership is down 17 percent this year (dropping 300,000 viewers in the last year). Desperate to regain momentum (and likely hoping for drama), producers for the show reached out to conservative Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, requesting that he appear as a guest.
Fox News Digital has confirmed that “The View” extended an invitation to DeSantis and deputy press secretary Bryan Griffin shared his office’s official response to the offer.
According to PJMedia, the invitation read: “The hosts of The View ‘would be honored’ if the Governor joined them.”
The DeSantis team doubted the sincerity of the invitation and questioned the producer’s motive.
Unlike a notable politician or two in the Democratic party, DeSantis’ memory is still intact, and his office was quick to remind the hosts of “The View” of their history of vitriol toward the governor:
- Joy Behar, August 2021: “… [Governor DeSantis is] a negligent, homicidal sociopath … that’s what he is … He’s risking the lives of children, children’s parents, their grandparents, anyone they may come into contact with, so he can appeal to his white supremacist base, so he can continue in his career an get reelected.”
- Sunny Hostin, June 2022: “Death-Santis… I think he’s a fascist and a bigot.”
- Ana Navarro, April 2022: [Governor DeSantis’s policies are]: “… anti-Black, … anti-gay, … anti-LGBTQ+ community … and … anti-American. It’s what happens in Venezuela. It’s what happens in Nicaragua.”
- Sunny Hostin, February 2022 (on Governor DeSantis’s policies): “it started with CRT. Let’s remember that – and those are anti-history laws, anti-Black history laws, really. If you start coming after Black people, what comes next, right? Of course the LGBTQ+ community, and then women, and then other marginalized groups.
DeSantis’ deputy press secretary Bryan Griffin shared his office’s official response to the “The View‘s” offer on Twitter:
“Thanks for the invite. I understand that you are sending this request on behalf of your team. But are the hosts of the View really interested in hearing from Governor DeSantis about all of the important work he is doing on behalf of Floridians to protect their health and livelihoods, to stand up for parents and children, and to defend freedom?”
After stating reasonable reservations and reminding “The View” of their chronic insults and false statements, Griffin concluded:
“We will pass on this offer. Also please note — we don’t coordinate appearances or events of a political nature from the official office. Our role is to serve the people of Florida.”
“The View” declined to comment when asked if the show received the email tweeted by Griffin.