The math wasn’t mathing on Wednesday’s The View. During their usual hate session against President Trump, ABC News co-host Sunny Hostin suggested that the war in Iran cost American $50 billion, without citing her source. She then proceeded to claim that amount was more than the U.S. had spent since WWII. The U.S. would be so lucky if that was all we spent. Perhaps that’s the “girl math” that’s all rage on social media.
Amid talking about how the fighting over the Strait of Hormuz was causing prices to go up and affect the stock market, Hostin made her wild claims about the cost of the war and defense spending:
You know, I just read that this war is estimated to have already cost us $50 billion. $50 billion, which is more money than this country has spent since World War II. And then in 2027, this president is asking for $1.5 trillion for defense, which would be more money spent in modern history on war.
“This is unbelieve,” she proclaimed.
She was right, it was unbelieve able… because it was all false. It was false not just because America’s national debt was over $39 trillion. Even if she meant to say it was more money spent by the U.S. on any war since WWII, it was false.
According to Norwich University, the total cost of World War II for the United States was $4.1 trillion, adjusted for inflation. Their numbers even showed that $30 billion didn’t scratch what was spent by the U.S. on WWI, $334 billion. “Gathering financial facts regarding America’s brief involvement in World War I, historians can see that $334 billion was spent fighting the enemy (an amount adjusted to reflect inflation). That amount rose to $4.1 trillion during the Second World War,” they wrote.
Sunny Hostin claims the war with Iran has cost $50 billion, then asserts that amount "is more money than this country has spent since world War II." pic.twitter.com/SFB6982Ku9
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) April 22, 2026
Looking past WWII, the BBC reported the U.S. spent $828 billion on the Vietnam War. Additionally, a U.S. Navy historical analysis done in 2008 found that all the wars since WWII cost more than $50 billion. Since that Navy analysis was done by accounting for 2008 inflation, their costs would be much higher in 2026 dollars.
At no point did anyone on set or a producer correct Hostin, nor was she made to correct it later.
Hostin wasn’t the only co-host to demonstrate their mastery of some form of girl math.
According to co-host Joy Behar, the oldest crone on the show, President Trump was committing insider trading because the stock market would react to what he said and did:
Do you find it interesting that very time he makes a decision, it’s right around - it's sort of coincides with the stock market?
Like, you know, right before he decides something, the stock market goes up, like it's almost like insider trading like they know that something is going to happen which manipulates the stock market. So, now it goes up, okay, they made money. Now, he'll say something, it’s going down, they buy.
“I mean, I find it very suspicious. And they really need to be looking into this in Congress, I'm sorry. I’ve never seen anything like this,” she decried.
Just because you’re ignorant, doesn’t mean there’s criminal activity or change how math works.
[H/T to Dana Loesch for pointing out the Girl Math in action]
The transcript was below. Click "expand" to read:
ABC’s The View
April 22, 2026
11:18:00 a.m. Eastern(…)
JOY BEHAR: Do you find it interesting that very time he makes a decision, it’s right around - it's sort of coincides with the stock market?
SUNNY HOSTIN: Uh-huh.
BEHAR: Like, you know, right before he decides something, the stock market goes up, like it's almost like insider trading like they know that something is going to happen which manipulates the stock market.
SARA HAINES: Yeah.
BEHAR: So, now it goes up, okay, they made money. Now, he'll say something, it’s going down, they buy. I mean, I find it very suspicious. And they really need to be looking into this in Congress, I'm sorry. I’ve never seen anything like this.
ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN: Well, it benefits the wealthy who can sit on their money and can deal with the volatility. It hurts the poor who maybe you're taking out your pension next month or want to and suddenly the market drops.
BEHAR: Most don't say I'll buy now because it's low. They sort of let their accountants figure these things out.
FARAH GRIFFIN: The waiting out the volatility is something only the wealthy have the benefit can do.
HOSTIN: And because the Strait of Hormuz is now closed, I think it is affecting the stock market and affecting everyday Americans, it's affecting their pockets.
You know, I just read that this war is estimated to have already cost us $50 billion. $50 billion, which is more money than this country has spent since World War II. And then in 2027, this president is asking for $1.5 trillion for defense, which would be more money spent in modern history on war.
BEHAR: Why don't they just get rid of him already?
HOSTIN: This is unbelieve. I think what the American people want is good health. They want --
HAINES: Yeah.
HOSTIN: Right? They want good healthcare. They want good education. They want good housing. They don't want to spend $50 billion in a war of choice that is unconstitutional, illegal -
WHOOPI GOLDBERG: It’s not a war of choice. We didn’t choose. His choice.
HOSTIN: It was his choice. It was his choice. It’s a war of choice and for this president to say ‘I'm going to end a war,’ well, sir, you started the war. You shouldn't have started it in the first place.
HAINES: Yeah.
[Applause]
BEHAR: What are the American people supposed to do really? You know?
GOLDBERG: Ah?
BEHAR: What are they supposed to do?
GOLDBERG: What are they supposed to do? They’re supposed to do what we always do. You make sure you take care of your family. You change the things you can change. You take care of the stuff you can take care of. Because this is -- we can kvetch and bitch about this all we want to. We don't have the power to get anything done until midterms. We don't have the power to change what they're going, but we can say we don't like it and continue to do all our marches. We can continue to do everything because that's what you can do in your power.
(…)
