Savannah Chrisley, currently serving as a guest host on ABC’s “The View,” sparked controversy this week after making a demonstrably false claim about Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez being the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee for 2028. The incident occurred during a discussion about Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks regarding potential U.S. Involvement in a conflict between China and Taiwan, prompting a swift rebuke from her co-hosts.
The exchange unfolded on Wednesday, February 18th, during an episode focused on Ocasio-Cortez’s statements made at the Munich Security Conference on February 13th. Ocasio-Cortez had expressed a desire to avoid direct confrontation, stating, “I think what we are hoping for is that we want to make sure that we never get to that point, and we want to make sure that we are moving in all of our economic research and our global positions to avoid any such confrontation.” Chrisley’s assertion that Ocasio-Cortez was already the chosen candidate for the next presidential election was immediately challenged by the show’s regular panelists.
The discussion began after host Joy Behar suggested acknowledging missteps made by former President Donald Trump before criticizing Ocasio-Cortez. Behar pointed out that “Mispronouncing a word is totally different than not knowing your position on Taiwan. What’s important is how you recover from something. Trump, he’s done things, and then he’s continued on with his speech, and then continued on to meet with world leaders. So, the recovery is what matters, and AOC just didn’t have a recovery.” Moderator Whoopi Goldberg echoed this sentiment, adding a distinction between misstatements by a world leader and those made by a member of Congress. It was then that Chrisley stated, “AOC, though, is likewise the Democrats’ pick for the next election.”
Goldberg immediately refuted the claim, stating, “No, no, no!” while Behar quipped, “You better tell that to (California Gov.) Gavin Newsom!” This response highlighted the lack of any basis for Chrisley’s assertion. Ocasio-Cortez herself has repeatedly denied any plans to run for president. At the Munich Security Conference, she told The Latest York Times that her attendance was not motivated by presidential ambitions, but rather to “sound the alarm bells” about “runaway inequality that is fueling far-right populist movements.”
Chrisley is filling in as a guest host on “The View” during Alyssa Farah Griffin’s maternity leave, which began on February 17th and will conclude on February 20th. Griffin welcomed her first child with husband Justin Griffin on February 10th, as announced by Goldberg on the show. Other regular hosts of “The View” include Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, and Ana Navarro.
The incident comes after President Donald Trump issued pardons to Todd and Julie Chrisley in May 2025, reversing their convictions on charges of bank fraud and tax evasion. Trump reportedly called Savannah Chrisley from the Oval Office to inform her of his decision, according to reports at the time. The Chrisleys had been sentenced to 12 and seven years respectively, but served just over two years before receiving the presidential pardon.
The situation underscores the challenges of navigating political discourse on daytime television and the importance of factual accuracy. The swift correction from “The View” hosts demonstrates a commitment to holding guest hosts accountable for their statements, even as they contribute to ongoing conversations about complex geopolitical issues like the tensions surrounding Taiwan. The relationship between China and Taiwan remains a sensitive topic, with China viewing Taiwan as a breakaway province and Taiwan asserting its sovereignty. On December 29th, China conducted military exercises near Taiwan, simulating attacks and a potential blockade of major ports.
As Savannah Chrisley continues her guest hosting stint on “The View,” it remains to be seen whether this incident will have a lasting impact on her public image. The show will continue to address current events and political topics, and the scrutiny of its hosts and guest commentators is likely to remain high. The Democratic field for the 2028 presidential election is still wide open, with several potential candidates likely to emerge in the coming years.
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