The hosts of ABC's "The View" spoke about the 2024 general election on Wednesday, with some warning that a rise in pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses could lead to President Joe Biden's defeat in the upcoming contest.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have spread to colleges across the nation as students demand the schools divest from companies supporting the war effort in Gaza.
Alyssa Farah Griffin said that "Donald Trump may very well be president in seven months." She said that Trump being on trial on New York, rather than on the campaign trail, could be helping his case.
"What people are seeing when they turn on the media, not that crazy TIME piece we read yesterday about all the horrifying things he's going to do in a second term, they see violence and they see protests on college campuses," Griffin said. "They see young people calling Joe Biden 'Genocide Joe,' and it scares people."
Trump is currently on trial in New York for a hush money scheme to silence two alleged mistresses.
Griffin added that losing young progressive voters could cost Biden the election. She also suggested that Biden deliver a national address to break down the conflict in Gaza and what the administration is doing to mitigate the conflict.
Sunny Hostin disagreed with Griffin's take, citing statistics that found Trump would lose votes if convicted. She also referenced the negative press Trump has received since the start of the trial.
"He's sitting there falling asleep, he's now 'Sleepy Don,' there's no 'Sleepy Joe' anymore," Hostin said.
Joy Behar mentioned the Harvard Youth Poll, which found that young voters are more concerned about issues such as inflation, healthcare, gun violence, protecting democracy, reproductive rights and climate change than the Israel-Gaza conflict.
"You don't have to love Joe Biden, you just have to love your freedom," Behar said.
Sara Haines sided with Griffin, adding that Biden is at danger of losing independent and moderate voters as well.
"I think optics matter. We say that at this table all the time. Even though it's not Biden's fault, what we are seeing all over the news are these protests and what's seemingly out of control," Haines said.
Whoopi Goldberg acknowledged the other hosts' arguments, but said voters have already decided who they want to vote for.
"People have decided in terms of what they want for democracy," Goldberg said.
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Jenna Sundel is a Newsweek reporter based in New Jersey. Her focus is reporting on breaking news. Jenna joined Newsweek ... Read more
