Savannah Chrisley to guest host 'The View' despite show’s criticism of parents’ pardons
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Television personality Savannah Chrisley revealed last Tuesday that she will guest host ABC’s daytime talk show 'The View' in February 2026 despite the show’s co-hosts’ past criticism of her parents’ presidential pardon.
Chrisley made the announcement on her podcast 'Unlocked' on Tuesday, December 23, saying, “I am co-hosting The View the week of February 15, so I’ll be on The View all week. I’m so excited for that because I like doing things that challenge me. I like doing things that educate me.”
Savannah Chrisley expresses excitement about the opportunity
On the podcast, Chrisley acknowledged that the panel on 'The View' had “bashed” her family in the past but said she was nonetheless enthusiastic about the assignment. “I’m going outside my comfort zone by going on a show where there’s four or five women who all believe one way, and I believe differently. I’m excited for it because I know God’s hand is going to be on me throughout that entire experience,” she said.
Chrisley’s parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley, known for the reality series 'Chrisley Knows Best,' were pardoned by President Donald Trump in May 2025 after being convicted in 2022 on federal charges of bank fraud and tax evasion and sentenced to a combined 19 years in prison.
After the pardon was announced, hosts on 'The View' criticized the decision. Co-host Joy Behar said at the time, “According to this administration, if you are a reality star with a lot of money, and a tax cheat, and you commit fraud, then that’s good. We’re going to give you a pardon.” Behar added that poor Americans on Medicaid or food stamps do not receive similar leniency.
REALITY STARS TODD & JULIE CHRISLEY PARDONED BY TRUMP: After the president pardoned the reality TV stars of their tax evasion and fraud charges, 'The View' co-hosts question if their family's support of Trump helped their case. pic.twitter.com/s0JbLsV5S5
— The View (@TheView) May 28, 2025
Behar continued, “I never saw the show. I’ve only seen clips where he’s running around being rich. He gets let off the hook, but somebody, anybody that we might know who needs help doesn’t get help from this administration.”
Co-host Ana Navarro described the pardons as not “ethical,” while Sara Haines called them “not surprising.”
When Todd and Julie Chrisley learned about Trump’s pardon
After former President Trump signed the pardon in May, Todd and Julie Chrisley shared how they found out they were being released. Julie said she called Savannah one last time and heard, “He did it, he signed it.” She recalled bursting into tears and hanging up in disbelief.
Julie described the moment as “the craziest thing” because most news from prison tends to be negative. She said guards and inmates alike realized something was different, with one correctional officer confirming the pardon and checking on her well-being.
Todd said a fellow inmate told him he might have been pardoned, but he wasn’t sure until later. When a corrections officer confirmed it, Todd said he felt “as good as I can be,” adding that the family owed thanks to God and that “God touched President Trump’s heart.”
