Whoopi Goldberg stirred controversy on December 19, 2024, when she advised President-elect Donald Trump to “stay away from the stairways” during a discussion about Elon Musk’s political influence on ABC’s “The View.”
The remark came after co-host Joy Behar suggested that Vice President-elect JD Vance and Musk conspired against Trump. Goldberg told Trump, “Hey, you know who [Trump]; stay away from the stairways… Because, you know, people put their leg out to trip you going down the stairs. Watch out.”
Following a commercial break, Goldberg walked back her comments, explaining she was talking about her cat’s behavior on stairs rather than implying any threat to the president-elect.
Trump responded on December 22, dismissing suggestions that he had “ceded the presidency” to Musk, pointing to constitutional requirements barring foreign-born citizens from holding the office.
The segment centered on a failed bipartisan spending bill that included provisions potentially limiting Musk’s operations in China. Musk leveraged his social media platform to pressure House Republicans to oppose the measure, ultimately contributing to its defeat.
Since purchasing the social media platform X in 2022, Musk’s influence has grown substantially. His posts often reach twice the audience of Trump’s, allowing him to shape policy and cabinet selections for the incoming administration.
Musk has become a frequent guest at Mar-a-Lago during Trump’s transition, participating in discussions with world leaders and influencing staffing decisions. Trump appointed Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy as co-chairs of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with identifying $500 billion in “unauthorized” or “misused” spending. Critics warn of potential conflicts of interest, as Musk’s businesses hold billions in federal contracts.
Recent filings revealed Musk’s $200 million donation to a pro-Trump super PAC and $20 million to a group claiming that Trump would not sign a national abortion ban. Musk’s political action committee is poised to play a significant role in Republican primaries, funding challengers to House members opposing Trump’s nominees.
This incident marks another chapter in “The View’s” history of Trump-related controversies. In November 2024, the show issued four legal notes in one episode after making unverified claims about Trump’s cabinet picks, including Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, and Pam Bondi.
In July 2022, the show retracted claims made by Sunny Hostin and Joy Behar that protesters at a Turning Point USA event were “invited” by the organization. Following a cease-and-desist letter from the conservative group, Sara Haines clarified on-air, “We want to make clear that these demonstrators were gathered on public property, not on the conference grounds.”
