Hasselbeck criticized Behar’s coverage of Donald Trump’s inauguration when she said that her ex-colleague “could learn from” event performer Carrie Underwood’s strength.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck returning to The View after publicly slamming cohost Joy Behar and the ‘sinking’ talk show

Hasselbeck criticized Behar's coverage of Donald Trump's inauguration when she said that her ex-colleague "could learn from" event performer Carrie Underwood's strength.

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February 4, 2026 2:12 p.m. ET

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Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck on 'The View'. Credit:

Steve Fenn/ABC/Courtesy Everett

The dynamic at *The View'*s Hot Topics table is about to get even spicier, as former cohost and controversial conservative personality Elisabeth Hasselbeck is set to return to the panel after publicly slamming current star Joy Behar's coverage of Donald Trump's second inauguration and the "sinking" talk show.

Hasselbeck, who served as a permanent cohost from 2003-2013, is one of several guest panelists who will fill in for full-time Republican commentator Alyssa Farah Griffin, the show's former Trump White House staffer who's set to go on maternity leave following the impending birth of her first baby.

The 48-year-old *Survivor* contestant took aim at Behar, who served as a cohost alongside her during her original run on the talk show, in January 2025, after the 83-year-old comedian criticized Carrie Underwood's decision to perform at Trump's event.

"That @TheView @JoyVBehar needs to simmer down off my friend," Hasselbeck wrote on X at the time, later accusing Behar of "calling Carrie Underwood Un-American." It should be noted, however, that Behar did not use the phrase "un-American" to describe Underwood on that week's broadcast of *The View*. Hasselbeck additionally shared a photo of Behar to her Instagram Story, writing "Joy — @carrieunderwood is an INCREDIBLE WOMAN. You could learn from her strength."

Rosie O'Donnell, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck on 'The View' in 2006.

Steve Fenn/ABC/Courtesy Everett

Hasselbeck also appeared on Sean Hannity's Fox News program to discuss Behar, expressing that the show "refused to put anyone there who has a lick of sense on most days." She added that Behar's criticism of Underwood felt like "nothing more than selfish personal publicity-gaining right now," and alleged that Behar "wants to attach her name to Carrie Underwood’s name so that she maintains relevance because she knows the ship is sinking."

The former cohost's criticism came after Behar admitted that she was confused by *American Idol *winner Underwood's follow-up statement explaining why she took the stage at Trump's ceremony.

Later last year, Hasselbeck again found herself at the center of a *View* controversy, after fellow former cohost Rosie O'Donnell responded to an interview question about the pair's long-standing rift stemming from a legendary on-air blow-up that preceded O'Donnell's first exit from the full-time lineup in 2007.

O'Donnell alleged that their iconic fight was "a setup" and "prepared" by then-producer Bill Geddie (who died in 2023), with Hasselbeck replying in a series of tearful video messages.

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"I love my friends who disagree with me. I tried to call you many times and reach out to you after that, Rosie, and you don’t want repair," Hasselbeck alleged in her October 2025 messages. "I have to go here because you won’t respond. If you want to get together and talk, let’s do it, come over and swim in my pool, come take a couple laps, come back to America and enjoy your nation. We can have an open free dialogues about what we disagree on. I’ll make you dinner, what do you want to stop the bullying?" (A representative for O'Donnell had no comment on Hasselbeck's words at the time.)

Before the recent drama, Hasselbeck made several appearances on *The View* following her departure, including as a guest cohost in 2022, and again as a guest for Barbara Walters' tribute episode in January 2023 after the co-creator died days earlier.**

Rosie O'Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck for 'The View'.

Yolanda Perez/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

*The View*'s current producer, Brian Teta, revealed Wednesay to Deadline that Hasselbeck and fellow conservative Abby Huntsman (who sat on the full-time panel from 2018-2020) will return to the show alongside other guest panelists including Amanda Carpenter, Sheryl Underwood, comedian Whitney Cummings, and Savannah Chrisley, who will appear on Feb. 17.

** has reached out to a representative for *The View *for comment.

*The View* airs weekdays on ABC.

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