The View has officially confirmed its returning cast for its upcoming 30th season, set to premiere on September 8. The established lineup includes Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, Sunny Hostin, and Alyssa Farah Griffin.
This confirmation follows considerable speculation regarding potential new additions to the panel, particularly White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and former host Rosie O'Donnell. ABC released a teaser video for the new season on Thursday, which included a nod to the show's history, starting with a segment featuring the late Barbara Walters. Haines remarked in the clip, "30 years. Can you believe it?" The other panelists joined in to commemorate the milestone season.
Despite rumors, Leavitt, who is set to depart her role as press secretary at the end of August, is not joining the permanent cast. Sources indicated that producers have extended an invitation for Leavitt to appear as a guest on the show soon after she leaves the White House, serving as a potential tryout. This move has reportedly garnered support from President Donald Trump and other White House officials. Leavitt herself, who announced her departure to spend more time with her newborn daughter, has not commented on the discussions.
Discussions about future media positions for government officials while still in office are legally delicate. The current hosts of The View have previously voiced criticism of Leavitt's performance as press secretary. Goldberg expressed strong disagreement with Leavitt's comments on "wokeness" in the media, while Behar suggested Leavitt's hiring was based on her appearance. Hostin also publicly countered Leavitt's remarks about younger Americans being raised with "silver spoons."
Rosie O'Donnell, who previously hosted The View for two separate stints (2006-2007 and 2014-2015), had also been the subject of return rumors. O'Donnell announced earlier this month that she would appear on the 30th-anniversary special as a guest. She stated on the podcast The Tangle that she would return in whatever capacity the show desired and expressed pride in the program's evolution. O'Donnell also alluded to a past "tense time" with Goldberg during her previous tenure, noting that her expectations of collaborative on-air dynamics did not fully materialize. She speculated that Goldberg might have felt encroached upon, an intention O'Donnell stated she did not have.
O'Donnell, who recently served as a guest host on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, underwent a facelift in January. Her potential return to The View as a guest for the anniversary special marks another television appearance following her January procedure.