Whoopi Goldberg just dropped a bombshell invite for The View’s next cohost and it’s the one person Donald Trump can’t stand
Holy war of words.
Whoopi Goldberg just dropped a major hint about who she wants as the next cohost on The View, and it’s someone who’s been driving Donald Trump up the wall for months – Pope Leo XVI. Chatting with Us Weekly on May 12, 2026, Goldberg said, “I’d like to have Pope Leo asking people questions.” “As an American Pope, it would be great to sit with him, and it’d be great for him to sit with us.”
Leo and Trump have been locked in a very public, very messy feud for months now, trading jabs on social media and in interviews. The idea of them facing off, even indirectly, on The View’s “Hot Topics” table is the kind of drama daytime TV thrives on. Whoopi is fully aware of the buzz it would generate.
Goldberg’s pitch isn’t just about the spectacle, though. She’s made it clear she respects Leo’s perspective. During an April episode of The View, she defended his right to speak out on global issues, including the war in Iran. “That’s what the pope’s job is,” she said. “That’s his job, to help us to recognize what His beliefs are. As an American, he is the first American pope, he has every right [to speak out]. Remember what free speech is and that we all have it. It’s not just for you.”
It’s not hard to see why Goldberg would want Leo on the show
Since his election in May 2025, he’s been a lightning rod for controversy, especially when it comes to his clashes with Trump. The two have gone back and forth over everything from foreign policy to the role of the church in modern politics. Leo hasn’t shied away from firing back, either.
In April, after Trump launched another blistering attack on Truth Social, Leo didn’t take the bait but made his stance clear. “It’s ironic, the name of the site itself,” he told reporters. “Say no more.” Trump’s rant was typical – long, rambling, and packed with unsupported claims. He accused Leo of being “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” while also taking shots at his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“He talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services,” Trump wrote. He even dragged Leo’s brother, Louis Martín Prevost, into the mix, calling him “all MAGA” and claiming he “gets it” better than the pope does.
The president didn’t stop there
Trump went on to criticize Leo’s stance on Iran’s nuclear program, Venezuela, and immigration, before wrapping up with a backhanded compliment. “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” Trump claimed. The implication was clear: Leo only got the job because the church thought it would help them deal with Trump. It’s the kind of conspiracy-adjacent logic that’s become a hallmark of Trump’s social media presence.
Leo, for his part, has refused to engage in a direct back-and-forth. When asked about Trump’s attacks, he kept his responses measured but firm. “The things I say are not meant as attacks on anyone. “I do not look at my role as being political, a politician,” he said. Leo added, “I don’t want to get into a debate with him. I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing.”
It’s a stark contrast to Trump’s approach. Leo’s responses are diplomatic, while Trump’s are combative, often personal, and always designed to dominate the news cycle.
Goldberg’s admiration for Leo isn’t new. She’s met with popes before, including Pope Francis, whom she famously invited to cameo in Sister Act 3 during a visit to the Vatican in October 2023.
After Francis passed away in April 2025, she paid tribute to him on Instagram, calling him “the closest in a long time that seemed to remember that Christ’s love enveloped believer and non-believer.” Her respect for Leo seems to stem from a similar place – a belief that he’s bringing a fresh, more inclusive perspective to the role.
Would Pope Leo XVI ever actually join The View as a co-host?
The odds seem slim. His schedule is packed with papal duties, and the Vatican isn’t exactly known for its embrace of daytime TV. But if anyone could make it happen, it might be Whoopi. She’s been with The View since 2007, and she knows how to work the room. When asked about the show’s longevity, she kept it simple. “It’s never personal, and you just say what you think.” “That’s what they pay me for, and that’s what I do, so it makes it easy.”
The idea of Leo sitting at the table with The View panel is undeniably compelling. Imagine the conversations about peace, abortion, immigration, the role of faith in politics. It’s the kind of debate that could either be incredibly enlightening or a total trainwreck, depending on how it’s handled. Given Trump’s history with Leo, you can bet he’d be watching, ready to pounce on any misstep.
(Featured image: Library of Congress Life)
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