Whoopi Goldberg brought a level-headed perspective to the often fiery discussions on The View, urging her co-hosts to adopt a “wait and see” approach regarding Donald Trump’s incoming administration. With the former president set to return to the White House, the panel found themselves divided on how to react. Goldberg, however, wasn’t interested in jumping to conclusions or panicking about hypothetical scenarios, emphasizing the importance of measured responses over fear-driven speculation.
Goldberg’s remarks came amid a heated conversation about what Trump’s presidency might mean for the future of America. Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, herself a Republican, struck a similar tone, arguing that the strength of America’s government and its system of checks and balances would hold regardless of who occupies the Oval Office. Farah Griffin added, “I root for a smart, serious Donald Trump presidency and I root for pushback when he doesn’t do things that are smart.”
Goldberg echoed these sentiments, reminding her co-hosts that fretting over what Trump might do was a waste of energy. “I’m not going to waste a lot of time on what he might do,” Goldberg said. “I’m going to wait because I need to see what he will do so that I know what I’m going to do.”
The conversation took a sharper turn when Ana Navarro voiced her strong opposition to the “wait and see” stance. Referring to Trump’s past behavior and rhetoric, Navarro expressed deep concerns that his presidency would bring “retribution” and warned against underestimating the potential for authoritarianism.
Navarro’s skepticism highlighted a recurring tension within the panel: how to balance vigilance with optimism. “I have no false expectations that at 78 he’s going to all of a sudden turn into a good human being,” Navarro said, reiterating her belief that past behavior is the best predictor of future actions.
In response, Goldberg drew on her characteristic pragmatism to counter Navarro’s sense of urgency. “There’s nothing to be done until you know what you’re fighting,” she asserted. Using a colorful analogy, she quipped, “Pissing in the wind doesn’t help! You just get a wet face!”
Her point was clear: baseless accusations or unfounded fear could undermine the credibility of Trump’s critics, making it harder to hold him accountable for actual actions once his presidency begins. Goldberg emphasized that maintaining credibility requires restraint, focus, and waiting for tangible reasons to push back.
Goldberg’s balanced approach didn’t diminish the concerns many Americans have about Trump’s presidency, but it underscored the value of a calm and calculated response. “You lose credibility in many different ways if you don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, warning that rushing to criticize Trump without evidence would backfire.
While Navarro’s fears and Goldberg’s pragmatism might seem at odds, their discussion reflects a broader debate among Trump’s critics: whether to brace for the worst or hope for the best while preparing to respond.
