Co-hosts of ABC's "The View" on Monday urged for a return to basic human decency following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, as a number of online commentators reportedly celebrated his passing.
"First thing I want to say is, I saw a lot of posts online this week kind of celebrating his death and rejoicing," said co-host Ana Navarro. "And listen, I know that Trump does that. He did it with Bob Mueller, he did it with John McCain, he did it with Rob Reiner. But it’s inhumane and lacking empathy."
Navarro added that while the deceased cannot see the posts, their families can, referencing Graham's sister. "His family, his sister who he adopted when she was 13 because both of their parents died, is alive, and is hearing it. And so I think that for the benefit, for humanity, for having, you know, a normal decency towards the family of the dead, that just has to stop."
Multiple political figures and commentators reportedly reacted to Graham's death with criticism and celebratory remarks. Far-left streamer Hasan Piker reportedly called Graham a "bloodthirsty, odious monster" in response to the news.
Other "The View" co-hosts, Sunny Hostin and Whoopi Goldberg, also reportedly offered critiques of the late senator, particularly focusing on his relationship with former President Donald Trump. Navarro commented on this shift, stating, "There was a Lindsey before Trump and a Lindsey after Trump. There were two completely different Lindseys."
Hostin quoted Steve Schmidt, a co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, who reportedly wrote that Graham "knew better." Schmidt was further quoted as describing Graham as "a lonely and unprincipled man who betrayed his country for power and his decency for attention," and a "pilot fish" that hovered around a larger predator.
Co-host Sara Haines echoed Navarro's call for restraint, stating, "I’m going to echo Ana’s sentiments that the person who passed won’t hear the people’s comments." Haines added that while she did not know Graham personally and disagreed with his politics, it was disturbing to see online comments suggesting he should not be humanized. "He was a human. So there were people that loved him, there were people that cared for him. And whether I disagreed with him completely or not, he’s gone. So my heart goes out to the people around him that are suffering."
Other public figures also reportedly made notable statements. "The Young Turks" co-host Ana Kasparian reportedly responded to Graham's death with the phrase "Good riddance," a sentiment reportedly echoed by far-right commentator Nick Fuentes. Rick Wilson, another co-founder of the Lincoln Project, reportedly suggested on a podcast that Graham's death offered a form of "karmic comfort" to some, stating that Graham died "knowing how badly Donald Trump had f---ed it up."