Sara Haines sparks backlash as The View co-host makes joke about President Donald Trump and US men’s hockey team in Washington

On Wednesday, during a segment of The View, co-host Sara Haines made a quip about President Donald Trump being gay while discussing the US men’s hockey team’s appearance at the recent State of the Union address.

The remark, delivered in a joking tone, quickly drew attention and criticism online.

Haines made the joke while conversing with fellow panelist Whoopi Goldberg, who had opened the discussion by calling the president “insanely rude” for highlighting the men’s hockey team over other Olympic medalists.

Goldberg emphasized that multiple athletes had won gold for the United States, including the women’s hockey team and a young immigrant skater, questioning why Trump singled out only one group.

The Joke in Context

Jumping in, Haines referenced the HBO Max series Heated Rivalry, which centers on a romantic storyline between male hockey players.

“He’s clearly a fan of ‘Heated Rivalry,’ Whoopi, that’s why he loves the hockey players,” she joked.

She continued lightly, adding, “I can agree with Donald Trump on this,” in a tone meant to blend humor with commentary.

While Trump did extend an invitation to the women’s hockey team following their gold medal victory over Canada, the athletes declined due to “academic and professional commitments” after the Olympics.

This decision came one day after Trump had celebrated the men’s team at the State of the Union, joking that he might face criticism if he did not invite the women’s squad as well.

Celebrity Reactions and Ongoing Tensions

Adding to the spectacle, rapper Flavor Flav publicly invited the women’s hockey team to party with him in Las Vegas, further fueling the public discussion.

Despite this, Trump announced during the State of the Union that the women’s team will indeed visit the White House, signaling a thaw in relations.

However, the remarks from Haines and other The View hosts drew swift criticism from the White House.

Spokesman Davis Ingle released a statement targeting Goldberg, Haines, and Joy Behar, accusing them of “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and dismissing the show as “poorly rated” and lacking talent.

Ingle defended Trump’s State of the Union as a successful address reflecting the mandate of nearly 80 million voters.

A Pattern of Controversial Humor

This is not the first instance where media commentary has sparked debate over jokes about Trump and homosexuality.

In 2018, The New York Times faced backlash for an animated cartoon portraying Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a romantic scenario, riding a unicorn and sharing a kiss.

Critics, including openly gay public figures, labeled the cartoon homophobic, arguing it treated being gay as an insult.

The Times defended the animation, claiming it was a “teenage infatuation” fantasy, not intended to disparage sexuality, and that it would have used the same exaggerated style regardless of the political figures’ gender.

What’s Next

The controversy surrounding Haines’s joke is unlikely to fade immediately.

As social media reacts and political commentary intensifies, ABC and The View may face continued scrutiny.

Meanwhile, the US women’s hockey team is expected to visit the White House, and public attention may shift to their reception and interactions with Trump.

The incident also underscores the persistent tension between celebrity commentary, political satire, and the boundaries of humor in media coverage.

Summary

Sara Haines’ joke about Donald Trump during The View segment has reignited debates over humor, politics, and LGBTQ+ representation in media.

The remarks came amidst discussion of the US men’s and women’s hockey teams’ recognition following Olympic victories, with Trump praising the men’s team and the women declining the initial invitation.

While some see the joke as lighthearted commentary, White House officials condemned it, framing it as part of a broader pattern of anti-Trump sentiment in liberal media.

Past incidents, like the controversial NYT animation, suggest that tensions over the intersection of politics, humor, and sexuality will continue to draw public scrutiny.