Whoopi Goldberg Shuts Down Booing Audience, Defends Ted Cruz on The View

Whoopi Goldberg found herself playing referee on The View this week, cutting off her own studio audience mid-jeer when Senator Ted Cruz's name came up as the show's guest.

The moment unfolded as Goldberg was running down the day's headlines, noting that Republicans were set to gather later that day for President Trump's midterm convention in Dallas, Texas. Trump would headline the event, she explained, joined by Vice President JD Vance, Health Secretary RFK Jr., and none other than Senator Ted Cruz, who was booked on The View that same day to promote his new book.

But before Goldberg could finish her sentence, the audience apparently couldn't help itself. Boos and jeers erupted at the mere mention of the Texas senator's name.

Goldberg wasn't having it.

"Uh-uh! No, no, no, no!" she snapped, holding up a finger to silence the crowd.

She then delivered what amounted to a mini civics lesson, invoking the legacy of the show's late founder to make her point.

"You know what, let's – look, this is a place where Barbara Walters made sure that anybody who wanted to come and have a good conversation could come," Goldberg told the audience, a line that drew applause.

She didn't stop there. Goldberg reminded viewers and audience members alike that The View has always aimed to be a space for dialogue across the political spectrum, regardless of whether the hosts personally agree with their guests.

"So, we want people to come, and we want to engage them. We don't agree with them always, we don't gel with them always, but we are respectful, and I know you will be too. I know you will be," she said.

In a memorable turn of phrase, Goldberg compared the audience's instinct to boo with something far less dignified – a burp – telling them to essentially swallow it back down.

The scolding didn't end there. When it came time to actually bring Cruz out for his interview, Goldberg doubled down on her message, framing it as part of the show's identity heading into its milestone anniversary season.

"We are kicking off the 30th season of The View and since day one this table has been open to anyone who wants to have a respectful conversation about issues, no matter what side of the aisle they're on," Goldberg said.

She then formally welcomed the senator, noting his new book, described as a biography titled Going Further: The Incomparable Clarence Thomas, before inviting him to the stage.

This time, the audience got the message. Cruz walked out to cheers and applause instead of jeers, a marked turnaround from the reaction just moments earlier.

The exchange is likely to fuel fresh conversation about the daytime talk show's audience dynamics, particularly as it kicks off a milestone thirtieth season and continues to book guests from across the political aisle. Whether Goldberg's on-air reprimand will have any lasting effect on how the show's audience reacts to conservative guests going forward remains to be seen, but for one moment on Wednesday, the ABC host made clear where she stood.