The View co-host Joy Behar expressed her hope that President Donald Trump’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities were successful, amid the ongoing debate over the operation’s effectiveness. Behar criticized Trump for his harsh labeling of the media as ‘scum’ and questioned whether he prematurely claimed success before a full assessment was made. She also acknowledged the significant threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Behar’s statement came after she played clips of Trump calling CNN and MSNBC ‘scum’ for reporting that the strikes may not have done as much damage as intended, according to leaked early intelligence estimates that have been harshly criticized by administration officials as misleading. Earlier this week, a handful of media outlets cast doubt on administration assertions that the strikes fully destroyed the Iranian facilities, including CNN publishing an exclusive claiming, ‘US strikes on Iran did not destroy nuclear sites,’ while the New York Times reported the Fordow nuclear facility was ‘severely damaged’ but not ‘destroyed.’
Behar weighed in, first rebuking Trump for blasting the media. ‘First of all, why does he call them sc, why does he have to do that – speak like that? It’s so not presidential,’ she said. She then questioned whether Trump was spinning the success of the strikes before an accurate assessment of the damage could be made. ‘Anyway, this was just a preliminary report and Trump’s CIA director is backing their claim that the damage was severe. But if Trump was already – had made up his mind about this – he already made up his mind before he knew, and we knew what really happened. So is he obliterating the truth?’
Despite bashing his behavior, Behar admitted she hoped Trump’s attacks did destroy Iran’s nuclear weapons program because of how dangerous the Iranian regime is. ‘I think Iran, a rogue state like that, having a nuclear bomb – I’ve been worrying about nuclear war since I’m a child hiding under a desk,’ she said. ‘I mean, I used to say, ‘Why do I have to take my library books back? We’re all going to die anyway.’ That’s when I was a child. So, I hope – I wanted him to be successful, but he lies so much that you never know what the truth is.’
Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin agreed with Behar’s point and expressed dismay over people who are against the strikes just because Trump ordered them. ‘Seventy-nine percent of Americans agree that Iran shouldn’t have a nuclear weapon,’ she said. ‘There’s obviously debate over these strikes. Many people oppose the strikes, but I would say this, if they were successful, that is the most likely outcome to keeping us from getting into a bigger war with Iran.’ Griffin added, ‘We, as of now, are not on the cusp of World War Three, and I would encourage people to walk that language back.’