The View is officially heading into its milestone 30th season — and despite weeks of speculation, there won’t be a major shakeup at the famous Hot Topics table.
ABC confirmed that all six of the daytime show’s current co-hosts will return when Season 30 premieres on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, Ana Navarro and Alyssa Farah Griffin are all coming back for another year of heated political debates, celebrity interviews and headline-making clashes.
“Your favorite women of daytime are back for season 30!” the show announced in a promotional post.
But one name that won’t be joining the permanent panel is former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Rumors had been swirling that Leavitt could make the surprising jump from Donald Trump’s White House to one of television’s most politically charged talk shows.
The Daily Mail reported that Leavitt had been involved in “secret talks” about appearing on The View.
However, CNN media reporter Brian Stelter later pushed back on the claim, reporting that Leavitt had merely been invited to appear as a guest.
According to Stelter, there were no plans for Leavitt to become a guest host or permanent member of the panel.
The timing helped fuel the speculation.
Leavitt wrapped up her White House role on Thursday after announcing roughly two weeks earlier that she planned to step away from the demanding job to spend more time with her family.
During an appearance on Fox & Friends, Leavitt called her time in the administration “the adventure of a lifetime.”
She said she was grateful to Trump for giving her the opportunity to serve but explained that she wanted to spend more time at home with her two young children.
Leavitt shares 2-year-old son Niko and 4-month-old daughter Viviana with her husband, Nicholas Riccio.
“They’re just at a critical time in their life where they need their mom home a little bit more,” Leavitt said.
She added that she still plans to remain involved with Trump as an outside adviser.
Meanwhile, another familiar name has been stirring up speculation ahead of The View’s anniversary season.
Former co-host Rosie O’Donnell recently suggested that past hosts could return to the show as part of the Season 30 celebration.
“They’re bringing back all the hosts, I think, for the 30th season,” O’Donnell said during an Aug. 3 appearance on the Tangle With Kyle Ridley podcast.
O’Donnell said she remains proud of what The View has become, especially its growing focus on politics.
But her comments may have gotten ahead of ABC.
An insider later claimed that nothing involving O’Donnell had been officially finalized and suggested her public comments may have complicated behind-the-scenes discussions.
“There have been conversations, but those conversations were supposed to remain confidential,” the source said.
For now, viewers can expect the same six women back at the table when The View begins Season 30 — even as speculation continues over which former hosts and political figures could make surprise appearances during the anniversary year.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.