As Inauguration Day approaches, ABC’s The View has not let up on its clear criticism of the incumbent president. Yet on Wednesday’s segment featuring actress Glenn Close the discussion focused mainly on Vice President Elect, JD Vance. It is clear through the conversation that they all regret that Vance once thought Trump could be America's Hitler, but then he became a Trump fan.
JD’s political evolution is no new story for the media. From the publication of his book, Hillbilly Elegy, and place as a political explainer for most of the media as to why blue-collar America backed Trump, Vance was loved by major networks. However, after Trump’s first term, Vance has notably changed his opinion on the businessman, seeking the President’s support in his own Senatorial campaign and now accompanying him on the 2024 Presidential ticket. With this change came an influx of scrutiny, and the tune carries to The View.
As Glenn Close joined the table to discuss her part in a new movie, Joy Behar took the chance to question the actress about her role in the film adaptation of Vance’s book, filmed in Ohio in the summer of 2019. Close recalled her interactions with the politician:
He helped young Owen who was playing him. He helped him. We all met members of the family. We all sat with them individually, you know, one-on-one. And for me with Mamaw, I would say, “How did she walk into a room, how did she sit, how did she smoke, how did she laugh, how did she change the chemistry?” So that was, you know, the family was very generous with their time.
This praise for the young Vance did not last long as Behar interjected, souring the tone of Close’s comments:
BEHAR: He had a whole different personality in those days then he has now something he –
CLOSE: I don't know what happened.(LAUGHTER)
BEHAR: A lot of people are like that. The invasion of the body snatchers, I think, is the name of that movie.
CLOSE: Power is probably the biggest aphrodisiac for a human being.
The conversation continued and Close began to compliment Vance’s grandmother as “Amazing.” However Sunny Hostin seemed to disregard any praise for Vance or his family stating, “ Now he's talking about childless cat ladies, so there's that.”
Ironically The View has taken such a strong stance on a political figure who has changed his political views, even though in the past most of the hosts have complained over the divisive nature of politics. Though they welcome Alyssa Farah Griffin’s political change toward them, as she has denounced her views of Trump, with open arms, Vance has traveled beyond their pale.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s The View
1/8/2024
11:30:07 AM EST
(...)
JOY BEHAR: Speaking of vice presidents in 2020 you played J.D. Vance’s mamaw.
GLENN CLOSE: Mamaw, yes his grandmother.
BEHAR: His Grandma in "Hillbilly elegy" and the movie was based on his best-selling memoir. I remember him hawking it in buildings – so – and he even visited the set at the time, when you were doing that, which was –
CLOSE: He did. He did and he helped young Owen who was playing him. He helped him. We all met members of the family. We all sat with them individually, you know, one-on-one. And for me with Mamaw, I would say, “How did she walk into a room, how did she sit, how did she smoke, how did she laugh, how did she change the chemistry?” So that was, you know, the family was very generous with their time.
BEHAR: He had a whole different personality in those days then he has now something he –
CLOSE: I don't know what happened.
(LAUGHTER)
BEHAR: A lot of people are like that. The invasion of the body snatchers I think is the name of that movie.
ALYSSA FARAH-GRIFFIN: You were so fabulous–
CLOSE: Power is probably the biggest aphrodisiac for a human being.
BEHAR: You're right.
FARAH-GRIFFIN: I honestly forgot it was you because you were fabulous in it. You take on the whole Memaw of it.
CLOSE: She was an amazing woman. I mean I was toning her down actually.
SUNNY HOSTIN: Oh, wow.
CLOSE: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.
HOSTIN: Now he's talking about childless cat ladies so there's that.
(LAUGHTER)
(...)
