Tuesday’s episode of The View took a fiery turn as co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin criticized President Joe Biden’s eleventh-hour pardons for members of his own family.
Griffin’s comments, which framed the move as setting a “dangerous precedent,” visibly irked her fellow panelists, igniting a spirited debate, as reported by The Independent Journal Review.
With mere hours left in his presidency, Biden issued sweeping pardons to five family members, a move that came just before Donald Trump’s inauguration at the Capitol Rotunda.
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While Griffin questioned the ethical implications, her co-hosts rushed to defend Biden, portraying the decision as a necessary shield against a “dangerous man.”
Griffin opened by pointing out the precedent Biden’s actions might set: “Biden likes to hold himself on this moral high ground, but this sets a very dangerous precedent,” she argued.
Sunny Hostin was quick to interrupt, adding, “Against a very dangerous man.” The tension escalated as Griffin warned that Biden’s example could embolden future presidents to grant indiscriminate pardons.
Hostin and Ana Navarro countered by asserting that Trump, in their view, would have done the same—or worse—had the roles been reversed.
Griffin pushed back, highlighting that Trump has never publicly targeted many of the individuals Biden pardoned.
“I’ve never heard Donald Trump say Valerie Biden’s name. This feels way too sweeping to me,” she said, specifically pointing out the inclusion of spouses and siblings.
The conversation grew more heated as Hostin dismissed Griffin’s concerns, suggesting Trump’s vengefulness made Biden’s move necessary. “Oh, I think he’s vengeful enough to do that,” Hostin interjected.
The pardons Biden issued included his brothers Frank and James, his sister Valerie, and two in-laws, Sara Biden and John Owens.
Some of these individuals have been connected to controversies, such as Hunter Biden’s infamous business dealings with Burisma and allegations of influence-peddling.
Frank Biden previously used his brother’s inauguration to promote his law firm in connection with a lawsuit against sugar farmers.
The debate also touched on broader implications, with Griffin raising eyebrows at the pardon’s scope. “Hunter, I think you could debate. But the spouses and brothers? This goes too far,” she said.
The controversy wasn’t limited to Biden’s family. Just hours before leaving office, Biden also pardoned high-profile figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci and Gen. Mark Milley, as well as 2,500 individuals convicted of violent crimes.
Two of these individuals were linked to the death of a police officer, further fueling conservative criticism.
Meanwhile, Trump announced his own wave of pardons, covering roughly 1,500 defendants facing charges for their alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol protests. Trump told reporters that Biden’s actions made his family “look guilty.”
The sharp exchange on The View reflected a broader divide over the role of presidential pardons, accountability, and the boundaries of executive power.
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