‘The View’ host confronts Geraldo on ‘racist’ Trump: ‘Did he acknowledge your Puerto Rican heritage?’

Engaging Debate on Trump’s Alleged Racism

Recently-ousted Fox News personality Geraldo Rivera found himself in a heated exchange with Sunny Hostin over former President Donald Trump and the accusations of racism surrounding him.

Rivera, who once considered Trump a friend, defended the former president, claiming that Trump had always treated him with kindness. Rivera even reminisced about their time together on Trump’s hit show, “Celebrity Apprentice.”

Watch the Intense Exchange:

After being fired from Fox News’ ‘The Five,’ @GeraldoRivera tells #TheView exclusively he left the network because his “ideology does not fit Fox.”

“If you fired me from the number one [Fox News] show, then I’m going to quit,” he says he told executives. https://t.co/cVclFZQmjA pic.twitter.com/xmTjjsGfvr

— The View (@TheView) July 13, 2023

“Everyone knows I was close to Donald Trump for decades. You can boo or cheer. We came up together in New York from the 1970s when he was in New York,” Rivera passionately explained.

Joy Behar chimed in, saying, “That was different, he was a New York character. I went to his wedding.”

Rivera continued, “Right, and I did ‘Celebrity Apprentice,’ and then as fate would have it, just weeks after I did ‘Celebrity Apprentice,’ he announced his candidacy for the presidency. So, I mean, how many people have their friend, the drinking buddy — although he didn’t drink, I did — in the White House as president of the United States? He gave me tremendous access. He was always very nice to me, even though he knew I didn’t vote for him. So, you know, I have a different perspective…”

“What happened to him?” Behar interrupted curiously.

Rivera pointed out that losing the 2020 election had a significant impact on Trump, causing him to “become a crazy guy.”

“He was crazy before that. What are you talking about?” Behar laughed.

“I mean, he was a misogynist and a racist before then,” Hostin interjected firmly.

“Well, listen, he was always nice to me,” Rivera pushed back. “But you’re right. You’re right.”

Hostin then asked, “Did he know you were Puerto Rican?” implying that Trump’s treatment of Rivera might have been different if he had known his ethnicity.

“A lot of Puerto Ricans like Donald Trump,” Rivera objected.

“I’m not one of them,” Hostin replied firmly.