Just In: Whoopi Goldberg calls out Sunny Hostin’s interview question to The View guest: ‘Can you rephrase that?….. Check In

Hostin asked Stephen A. Smith if he’d run for president: “You think you’re qualified to run for president? I mean, the bar is pretty low, anyway.”

Whoopi Goldberg stepped in for a slight course-correction after taking issue with the way The View cohost Sunny Hostin asked a particular interview question on Thursday’s live show.

Near the end of a multi-part interview with sports broadcaster Stephen A. Smith, the legal expert turned the conversation toward Smith’s potential political ambitions.

Now, you’ve been asked, I hear, about running for political office in the future, and some people have said that they could see you running for president,” the 56-year-old said. “Would you do that? You think you’re qualified to run for president? I mean, the bar is pretty low, anyway.”

Though it was unclear who, one of Hostin’s cohosts could be heard gasping at the inquiry, just before Goldberg paused the discussion to request a correction.

That, I would, can you rephrase that?” Goldberg asked Hostin, who reiterated herself: “I just think that the bar is really low, because [Donald] Trump really had no political experience and went from 0 to 100.” She also clarified that “the bar is low” and that “anyone can run.”

Smith responded, stressing that “on many occasions” he has said “hell no” to a potential presidential run. “I’m living a pretty good life,” he said. “But, I must confess, I wish I could debate some of these guys. I’d love to be on the debate stage going up against these guys with the presidency on the line.”

Goldberg then joked, “Don’t say that, because we will arrange that.” Smith finished his thought in a half-joking fashion, saying that if he was told that he “had a legitimate shot to win the presidency,” he’d “definitely consider it” down the line.

The moment came amid a particularly eventful episode of The View, which also saw Hostin and Alyssa Farah Griffin clash over election issues at the top of the show, while Joy Behar’s cell phone once again interrupted the broadcast as the cohosts spoke.