Former ESPN host pushes back on Disney's Iger for reportedly urging 'The View' to tone down Trump talk
"Trump is obviously, again, using his position as president to put pressure on these media companies and I think a lot of them are capitulating and feeling that pressure, because they have things and business deals and things on the side that they want to happen, that they want to do," Hill said during CNN's "Table for Five" discussion on Saturday, before suggesting it should be about ratings. "Do the ratings support that you should stop talking about Donald Trump? Probably not."
Multiple Disney sources told The Daily Beast that both Iger and ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic recently suggested that the all-female daytime talk show panel be less antagonistic on political issues, though the recommendation was reportedly not taken too seriously. Co-host Anna Navarro reportedly pushed back the most forcefully on the suggestion.
"If you are Bob Iger, who I do have a lot of respect for - he was my former boss. If you're him, that's the only thing that should matter, as long as the audience decides that they have an appetite for that, then that's what the women should talk about, whether you like how they discuss it or not," she added.
Biden Tells 'The View' He Wasn't Surprised Harris Lost, Blames Sexism And Racism
A source with "The View" confirmed to Fox News Digital these discussions were had, but suggested not all the hosts are in lockstep with Navarro.
Read On The Fox News App
"Most hosts agree with the ABC top brass," the source told Fox News Digital. "'The View' is a daytime network talk show and needs to do more than just politics and Trump bashing. This was a welcome direction for many of us."
When asked whether "The View" will ultimately pivot towards less political coverage as the second Trump presidency continues, the source responded, "It's hard to say," but added, "Ignoring Bob Iger seems like a terrible decision."
Another source familiar with the situation said such conversations with talent are normal based on viewer feedback, and that this conversation in particular is about finding a "balance" in topics and reevaluating politics in general, not just stories pertaining to Trump.
On the panel, CNN political commentator S.E. Cupp spoke out against Trump's attack against media companies and acknowledged while she had issues with "The View," she was proud of the co-hosts for standing their ground.
Other CNN panelists, such as Montel Williams, who previously hosted "The Montel Williams Show," said he largely benefited from avoiding politics on his podcasts.
"When he's out of office, what are they going to talk about then?" Williams asked. "I do two podcasts, I try to stay off politics completely, and guess what? My ratings are up, my numbers are up."
Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture
"I do think, like, people suffering from MS, people suffering from PTSD, I do things like that because I think that our nation needs to be engaged in other conversations than just what he's [Donald Trump] doing every day. Because talking about him every day, I'm glad the ladies pushed back, but I would like them to take a trip outside of 'The View,'" he added.
Hill also worried about the message the reported pressure from Iger would send to younger journalists.
"To see, and I know that they're not straight journalists necessarily on 'The View,' but it's still representing a journalism body, so if the business that you work for, and again you all know I went through this at ESPN, if they're not willing to defend you in this moment, that's really leaving you vulnerable, and it's really leaving our entire industry vulnerable," she said.
Disney did not immediately return a request for comment.
Fox News' Gabriel Hays & Joseph Wulfsohn contributed to this report.Original article source: Former ESPN host pushes back on Disney's Iger for reportedly urging 'The View' to tone down Trump talk
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
a few seconds ago
- USA Today
No Open in sight, but with DP World Tour event, Donald Trump's foothold in Scotland grows
This week, the DP World Tour has returned to Scottish soil for the Nexo Championship, which is being held at —whisper it — Trump International Golf Links near Aberdeen. A late addition to the circuit's schedule, the event was originally called the Scottish Championship before a title sponsor hopped on board. In case you're wondering, Nexo is a premier digital assets wealth platform with its high-heeled yins proudly stating that, 'golf is a natural fit for our brand: elevated, global, and principled.' Is that not what Trump says about himself? Anyway, the Nexo Championship is the second significant event to be staged on Trump's golfing turf in the space of a few days, following the Staysure PGA Seniors' Championship, which concluded on Sunday. The other week, a petition urging the R&A not to take The Open back to Trump's Turnberry course was launched and earned upwards of 50,000 signatures. I've not found a petition against the staging of the Nexo Championship — the Scottish Government has chipped in with $240,000 of funding for it — or the golden oldies event on a Trump property yet. Amid all the fist-shaking, harrumphing, placard-waving and handwringing that greeted the U.S. President's visit to these shores last week, the actual golf events themselves clatter and batter on unhindered. Slowly but surely, Trump continues to establish a foothold in the business of championships on this side of the pond. My learned colleague, Ewan Murray of The Guardian, suggested in his own column recently that it would be no surprise to see a Scottish Open at Turnberry within the next few years. As Trump cut the ribbon on his second course at Balmedie last week, Guy Kinnings, the chief executive of the European Tour Group, was part of the ceremonial party. Presumably, any discussions about tournament golf at Trump-owned venues moved beyond the staging of the Nexo Championship? We all, meanwhile, know the championship Trump desperately craves. Despite all the 'dialogue' and 'feasibility work' about an Open at his treasured Turnberry, however, we all also know that there's probably more chance of the game's most celebrated major being held at Littlehill municipal while Trump is still around. In his homeland of the USA, Trump had a major, the PGA Championship, booked in at his Bedminster course in 2022 until the PGA of America stripped him of the honor after his incitement of the Capitol insurrection. PGA Championships are assigned to venues until 2032, while U.S. Opens are already locked in at various courses until 2043. The R&A, meanwhile, has announced Open venues only through 2027. Even if the prospect seems as remote as Point Nemo, The Open still remains Trump's best crack at a major championship. He may not be around to see it, mind you. It's hard to think that 10 years have hurtled by since we all trotted off down to Turnberry for the Women's Open of 2015 and the bold Donald hijacked affairs by birling about over the Ailsa course in his helicopter before making a grand entrance. That first morning of play was probably one of the most sigh-inducing days of my working life. Well, apart from the time there was no press lunch at an Amateur Championship one year. The bizarre circus unfolded not long after Trump had made his outlandish comments about Mexicans as his Presidential campaign became more volatile and divisive. Poor Lizette Salas, the daughter of Mexican immigrants who had spoken with quiet dignity on the eve of the championship about Trump's inflammatory rant, was encircled by cameras and microphones upon completing her opening round. In an elbowing, barging scrum of news reporters, she faced barking, salivating questions like, 'is he a racist?' instead of the more genteel, 'what club did you hit into the seventh?' It was all spectacularly unedifying on the first day of a women's major championship. About a year earlier, Peter Dawson, the then chief executive of the R&A, suggested that, 'it would be ludicrous if something said on the Presidential campaign trail dictated where an Open is held.' That observation didn't age particularly well, did it? Amid the general pandemonium that engulfed the Women's showpiece that day, a teenage Lydia Ko adopted an air of shrugging nonchalance to the whole palaver. 'I was on the 16th and saw the helicopter and I was like, 'man, that's a really nice helicopter, I'd love one,' she said at the time. Here in 2025, Trump's own heart's desire remains an Open Championship. For the time being, though, a Nexo Championship will do him. It's a telling foot on the DP World Tour ladder. He may climb a few rungs yet.
Buzz Feed
a few seconds ago
- Buzz Feed
Trump-Themed Restaurant Owner Faces Deportation
If you haven't heard, there is a Donald Trump-themed restaurant in Houston, Texas called "Trump Burger." The popular Texas chain sells hamburgers with the letters "T-R-U-M-P" etched into the buns... They have detailed artwork of Trump hanging on the walls... Oh, AND their menu includes items like the "Melania Crispy Chicken" and the "Barron Crispy Grilled," as well as a promise to "Make Burgers Great Again." Well, the "Trump Burger" has recently gone viral due to its owner being arrested by ICE for allegedly overstaying his visa. Roland Mehrez Beainy, the 28-year-old Houston "Trump Burger" owner, was reportedly arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement for allegedly failing to depart the US last year after arriving in 2019 on a non-immigrant visitor visa from Lebanon. An ICE spokesperson said this in a statement about Beainy's arrest: "Despite false claims to the contrary, Roland Mehrez Beainy does not have any immigration benefits that prevented his arrest or removal from the United States. Beainy is a 28-year-old illegal alien from Lebanon who entered the United States in 2019 as a non-immigrant visitor, but he failed to depart by Feb. 12, 2024, as required under the terms of his admission." "ICE officers arrested him on May 16, 2025, and he was placed into immigration proceedings. On June 13, an immigration judge granted his request for bond while he undergoes his proceedings." "Under the current administration, ICE is committed to restore integrity to our nation's immigration system by holding all individuals accountable who illegally enter the country or overstay the terms of their admission. This is true regardless of what restaurant you own or political beliefs you might have." While awaiting his immigration court hearing set for November, Beainy has denied the charges, telling Chron, a Houston news website: "Ninety percent of the shit they're saying is not true." Obviously, the internet had some thoughts on this one, with multiple people comparing the news to a South Park episode... "South Park Creators rn: WRITE THAT DOWN WRITE THAT DOWN.." "They really thought it would affect everyone else but themselves," this person wrote. And finally, this person pointed out that Trump doesn't seem to care about his own supporters... What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
UPI
a minute ago
- UPI
Mexico's Sheinbaum says no to 'invasion' by U.S. military
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday said Mexico is working with the United States to oppose drug cartels and related criminal activity but will not let the U.S. military operate on Mexican soil. File Photo by Isaac Esquivel/EPA-EFE Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum won't allow U.S. troops to target drug cartels in Mexico that President Donald Trump has designated as terrorist groups. Sheinbaum responded to a New York Times report indicating Trump directed the military to target drug cartels in Mexico. The Trump administration is considering using military force against Mexican drug cartels, including launching missiles from U.S. Navy destroyers to target cartels and their infrastructure. "The United States is not going to come to Mexico with the military," Sheinbaum said on Friday, as reported by The New York Times. "We cooperate [and] we collaborate, but there is not going to be an invasion," Sheinbaum said. "That is ruled out -- absolutely ruled out." Sheinbaum said U.S. military action in Mexico "is not part of any agreement." "When it has been brought up, we have always said 'no,'" she added. Despite objections from Mexican officials, Trump directed the U.S. military to target drug cartels that are designated as terrorist organizations, The New York Times reported on Friday. Although reports suggest the Pentagon is evaluating possible military strikes, it's unlikely that Trump would okay such operations, The Washington Post reported. An anonymous U.S. official who is familiar with the matter told the Post that it's unlikely such military actions would be carried out. Another said the Pentagon would not use troops on the ground and instead would consider employing drone or naval assets to carry out surgical strikes on cartel targets. No military strikes are likely to occur soon and possibly never will happen, according to The Washington Post. The ultimate goal is to protect U.S. citizens against violent crime and deadly drugs, such as fentanyl, that originate from south of the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the Trump administration. "President Trump's top priority is protecting the homeland, which is why he took the bold step to designate several cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told The Washington Post. Trump earlier this year designated eight drug cartels, including six in Mexico, as terrorist organizations. Sheinbaum at the time said the United States can't use the terrorist designation as a pretext for undertaking military operations in Mexico. Mexican authorities have worked with the Trump administration to lessen the amount if drugs and "migrants" crossing into the United States from Mexico. Ronald Johnson, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, in a prepared statement said the United States is working with Mexican officials to oppose drug cartels. "We stand together as sovereign partners," Johnson said on Friday in a social media post. "We face a common enemy: The violent criminal cartels," Johnson said. "We will use every tool at our disposal to protect our peoples."
