'The View' panelists pounce on Savannah Chrisley after she claims Trump isn't racist

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Tensions boiled over on 'The View' Thursday, February 19 when guest co-host Savannah Chrisley forcefully rejected accusations that Donald Trump is racist, igniting a heated exchange with several panelists.

Chrisley’s appearance had been relatively measured earlier in the week, despite her vow not to “hold back.”

But during the February 19 broadcast, a discussion about the Jeffrey Epstein files and former Prince Andrew's arrest quickly pivoted into a broader argument over Trump’s racism record and rhetoric.

Debate shifts from Epstein to racism claims on 'The View'

The first 'Hot Topic' centered on developments tied to Epstein and whether prominent figures faced equal scrutiny.

As co-hosts noted that Trump’s name appeared multiple times in documents related to Epstein, the conversation broadened to Trump’s repeated insistence that he is not racist.

Chrisley, who had remained quiet through much of the Epstein-focused discussion, spoke up when the issue turned to Trump.

“I get the rants I do. I understand them wholeheartedly,” she began, before addressing what she called unfair labeling of the president.

“Well, I think, when it comes to the event that happened yesterday, what’s so hard for me to witness is people stating that the president is a racist,” she said.

“He is a racist,” co-host Sunny Hostin responded bluntly.

Savannah Chrisley defends Trump

Chrisley attempted to counter the claim by citing a personal example.

“He saved one of my best friends’ lives, a Black woman who has been...” she said, before being cut off.

“So he has a Black friend. He’s a racist,” Hostin replied.

Whoopi Goldberg stepped in to explain why some on the panel see Trump’s record differently.

“When you target DEI programs with executive orders your first week in office, when you shared racist posts about the Obamas, these are the reasons that his behavior is so hard,” Goldberg said.

She also referenced a 1970s federal housing discrimination case involving Trump and his father.

“Is that an accusation?” Chrisley asked before multiple co-hosts responded to her question saying that it was a court determination, referring to the 1973 federal action in New York.

Sara Haines raises Pentagon decisions

Co-host Sara Haines pointed to additional examples she said fueled concerns, including the temporary removal of Pentagon web pages honoring Black military figures.

Hostin escalated the exchange further, citing a controversial Truth Social post that depicted the Obamas in a way she described as racist.

“Donald Trump is a racist. The most recent thing that he did by posting on Truth Social the Obamas depicted as apes in The Lion King. That was a racist act,” Hostin said.

“It, in fact, was a staffer,” Chrisley responded.

Hostin countered by referencing remarks from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that content posted on Truth Social comes directly from Trump.

“President Trump is a racist,” Hostin declared over Chrisley’s protest of “He is not.”