Disney and ABC executives have encouraged The View hosts to soften their political tone, especially when criticizing Donald Trump.
This move has prompted internal pushback and rising tensions.
Disney tells ‘The View’ to ease Trump criticism.
“Disney CEO Bob Iger and ABC News chief Almin Karamehmedovic urged ‘The View’ hosts to tone down anti-Trump commentary.
The move is reportedly part of a broader effort to recalibrate the show’s tone and widen its appeal.
According to sources cited by the Daily Beast, this effort to shift direction has caused backstage tensions among the co-hosts. Many of them believe political discourse is central to the show’s identity.
ABC News reportedly wants “The View” to focus less on Trump
The push to reduce anti-Trump content began earlier this year. In February, The New York Post reported that executive producer Brian Teta had urged staffers to “go easy” on Trump-related topics before the January 20 inauguration.
That guidance reportedly created unease both off-camera and during live tapings.
ABC insiders said the move wasn’t intended to suppress criticism of Trump specifically. Instead, it aimed to rebalance the show’s overall tone.
One source explained that the goal was to include a wider variety of topics to appeal to a broader audience.
During a recent internal meeting, Karamehmedovic reportedly asked the co-hosts to focus more on celebrity interviews and lifestyle segments. These types of content have historically performed well in ratings.
Though presented as a suggestion, the guidance was taken seriously, especially after Bob Iger echoed it during Disney’s major upfront event with advertisers.
The hosts resisted efforts to reduce political focus
Sources say several hosts resisted the recommendation during meetings with top executives.
Ana Navarro, in particular, argued that the show’s audience expects strong political commentary. She emphasized this is especially important amid today’s volatile political climate.
“This is what our audience wants,” one source said, paraphrasing the hosts’ response. “Isn’t it going to look bad if we suddenly stop talking about politics?”
Despite executive pressure, the hosts reportedly agreed to maintain their sharp political commentary on-air. This approach has been a hallmark of the program’s identity since its inception.
Iger urged less political rhetoric at Disney’s ad event
At Disney’s recent advertising upfronts, Navarro publicly thanked Iger for supporting the show. In response, Iger reaffirmed his support.
However, he also repeated the request to reduce political attacks.
This was especially true for attacks targeting Trump and his administration.
The exchange made it clear that the push for tonal adjustment comes from the highest levels of Disney leadership.
This showed that the effort to soften The View’s political edge is more than casual guidance.
Additionally, ABC also claimed the request is part of routine viewer feedback and not a directive to protect Trump.
A network spokesperson declined to comment on the report.
However, an internal source told The Post that ABC frequently adjusts show content based on viewer feedback.
This instance was no different. The source emphasized that The View remains an opinion-based program.
Hosts are paid to express their personal views, including political opinions.
Still, ABC is reportedly pushing for a balance of the show and a balance of topics.
The goal is to preserve the show’s influence while reducing potential backlash or legal issues.
Disney faces legal pressure over Trump and politics
The timing of Disney’s push for moderation coincides with ongoing legal and political pressure from Trump and his allies.
In December, Disney paid a $16 million settlement. Of that amount, $15 million was earmarked for Trump’s presidential library.
This followed a lawsuit by the former president against ABC over a George Stephanopoulos interview that mischaracterized a civil verdict.
Trump is pursuing a $20 billion lawsuit against CBS and Paramount Global.
The lawsuit concerns a separate interview involving Vice President Kamala Harris.
The fallout has already led to **executive resignations at CBS**, including longtime “60 Minutes” producer Bill Owens.
Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr, a Trump ally, has launched an investigation into Disney and ABC. The investigation focuses on diversity policies. Carr also hinted that the Stephanopoulos interview could impact future regulatory decisions.