Emotions ran high at the Hot Topics table on Wednesday when The View hosts clashed over comparing the atrocities committed in the United States versus Iran and the realities of living in both countries.
The fiery conversation started out as a discussion about President Donald Trump’s call for Iran to surrender amid the country’s escalating conflict with Israel, with legal expert Sunny Hostin explaining that Israel’s decision to preemptively bomb Iran was “not legal” under international criminal law. Moderator Whoopi Goldberg then stressed that this is why it was important to have global organizations like the United Nations that work to resolve these issues.
“Let’s just remember too, the Iranians literally throw gay people off of buildings, they don’t adhere to basic human rights,” Alyssa Farah Griffin remarked, prompting Goldberg to reply, “Let’s not do that, because if we start with that, we have been known in this country to tie gay folks to the car. I’m sorry, they used to just keep hanging Black people.”
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Griffin emphasized that “the Iranian regime today, in 2025, is nothing compared to the United States,” adding, “It is not even the same —I couldn’t step foot in this outfit in Iran right now.”
The EGOT winner attempted to explain that all violence rooted in hate is the same, no matter which country one resides in, but was quickly cut off by Griffin.
“No, it’s not!” the Republican panelist said. “The year 2025, the United States is nothing like if I stepped foot wearing this outfit in Tehran right now.”
Goldberg tried multiple times in vain to continue her response as Griffin continued, “No! I can’t have my hair showing. I can’t wear a skirt. I can’t have my arms out.”
Goldberg took a beat before replying to the former Trump staffer. “And that’s why I am saying that it is the same,” she said. “Murdering someone for their difference is not good whoever does it. It’s not good! So that’s why I said… what I heard is not what you meant.”
“I think it’s very different to live in the United States in 2025 than it is to live in Iran in 2025,” Griffin said. Goldberg replied, “Not if you’re Black.”
The Ghost star continued, “Listen, let me tell you about being in the country, this is the greatest country in the world. I know that, and we all know that. But every day we are worried. Do we have to be worried about our kids? Are [our] kids gonna get shot because they’re running through somebody’s neighborhood?”
Griffin attempted to find a middle ground between their viewpoints. “Look, nobody wants to diminish the very real problems we have in this country, that is no one’s intent,” she said. “But I think it’s important we remember there are places much darker than this country, and people who deserve rights, and we should…”
“Listen, not everybody feels that way,” Goldberg interrupted. “Listen, I’m sorry, when you think about the fact that we got the vote in 1965…” To which Griffin quipped, “But they don’t even have free and fair elections in Iran! It’s not even the same universe!”
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Goldberg appeared to try to find a better way to make her point before giving up. “You know what,” she told Griffin. “There’s no way I can make you understand.”
Joy Behar tried to step in to help fix the disconnect between the pair. “Try to reverse roles with a Black person in this country, let’s say, because I think that’s what [Goldberg’s] talking about,” Behar told Griffin. “Just try to understand from their point of view. From that point of view, this country does not go for them.”
The comedian acknowledged that she believed Iran is “doing worse things,” but that didn’t mean that it didn’t feel “bad on this side” either. “Joy, you know this,” Griffin pressed. “I think you know that Iran is significantly worse than our country at our worst has been.”
With no resolution in sight, Goldberg wrapped up the segment. “We’re gonna come back and talk more about this,” she said as the show cut to commercial break.
When they returned, the hosts did not reprise the topic and instead shifted to a conversation about New York City comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander being arrested by ICE agents at an immigration courthouse yesterday.
The View airs weekdays on ABC.
