Fact Check: Did 'The View' advocate for Jill Biden to become surgeon general?

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump's cabinet nominations are making news, and 'The View' has been discussing the president-elect's picks like Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, and Dr Mehmet Oz.

Last week, co-host Sunny Hostin had to read a legal disclaimer on air after mentioning trafficking allegations against Gaetz, which were denied and closed without charges.

Amidst these criticisms, a claim has surfaced that the show endorsed Dr Jill Biden for the role of surgeon general in 2020, even though the first lady does not hold a medical degree.

The origin of the claim

A post on X, previously known as Twitter, by the media aggregator Grabien, dated November 20, 2024, stated, "'The View' Once Wanted 'Dr. Jill Biden' To Become Surgeon General, They Now Call Heart Surgeon Dr. Oz Unqualified."

The post included a link to a video Grabien gathered from the November 20 broadcast of 'The View', in which they discussed Donald Trump's nomination of Dr Mehmet Oz to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Co-host Joy Behar stated, "You know, Dr Oz is a very well-known heart surgeon. This is an administrative position. But because he's on television, Trump picks people who are on TV. You know, they might as well pick Dr Pimple Popper."

She added, "I mean, the guy is qualified to do heart surgery, not necessarily run Medicare. But, you know, Trump, it seems to me, with all of his choices, it seems to me like he really is in the burning down mode. Let's just destroy all these organizations and then start over again."

Is it true that 'The View' suggested Jill Biden for surgeon general?

The hosts of 'The View' did not jointly propose Jill Biden for the role of surgeon general. The remark was made by Whoopi Goldberg and was subsequently rectified by her co-hosts. Goldberg acknowledged her error later, Newsweek reports.

The co-hosts expressed criticism of Dr Oz's nomination, highlighting his track record of endorsing questionable weight-loss remedies on his television programs and advocating for the use of the malaria medication hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19.

There were doubts raised regarding his fitness to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The assertion that 'The View' collectively or individually considered Jill Biden for the role of surgeon general, despite her not being medically qualified, requires additional context.

Whoopi Goldberg clarifies mistake about Jill Biden as surgeon general

In 2020, Whoopi Goldberg remarked on 'The View' that the future first lady might assume the role of surgeon general if Joe Biden were elected president, referring to her as a "hell of a doctor."

"I'm hoping Dr Jill becomes the surgeon general, his wife," Goldberg said. "Joe Biden's wife. She would never do it, but yeah, she's a hell of a doctor. She's an amazing doctor."

Sunny Hostin issued a response, "She's a teacher but might be good for (former Education Secretary) Betsy DeVos's post."

According to The Hill, Goldberg later commented during the episode, "I was wrong about his wife. I was wrong, before you start texting and emailing."

According to Newsweek, the title "Dr" in Jill Biden's designation does not denote a medical degree; it refers to her Doctorate in Education, which she earned from the University of Delaware in 2007.