Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former White House communications director and now co-host of The View, has sparked controversy after failing to honor her public pledge to wear a MAGA hat on the show if President Trump successfully secured the release of Israeli hostages. Griffin had made the promise in December 2024, stating she would wear the hat for an entire episode if Trump achieved a significant diplomatic victory, such as bringing the hostages home. However, after the peace deal was finalized, Griffin did not appear in the hat during the subsequent episodes of the show.
The release of the remaining Israeli hostages came as part of a historic peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, facilitated by Trump’s efforts. According to reports, the deal involved direct negotiations between Trump’s senior advisors, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Hamas leaders. While the agreement has been hailed as a major diplomatic achievement, it has also sparked controversy, with some critics questioning the involvement of a terrorist organization in the talks.
Griffin, who has been a vocal critic of Trump since leaving the administration, acknowledged the significance of the deal during Monday’s episode of The View. She praised the efforts of Trump, Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, stating that the negotiations were necessary despite the ethical concerns. However, she did not fulfill her public vow to show support by wearing the MAGA hat on air. This has led to criticism from Trump’s allies, including White House communications director Steven Cheung, who accused Griffin of prioritizing self-promotion over genuine gratitude for Trump’s efforts.
Despite the controversy, Griffin has continued to speak publicly about the implications of the peace deal, emphasizing the global impact of the October 7th attacks on Israel. She has also called for a shift from the previous administration’s approach, which she criticized as ineffective. The incident underscores the deepening divide between Griffin and Trump, even as both parties have publicly supported the outcome of the negotiations. The episode has sparked further debate about the role of media figures in political discourse and the use of public platforms for personal and political statements.