Joy Behar, one of the longtime co-hosts of The View, 

stirred up controversy once again by questioning why the United States is named after an Italian explorer rather than its indigenous inhabitants. 

Her comments came during a heated discussion about former President Donald Trump’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America,

a move that has sparked both criticism and support.

Behar Questions the Origins of America’s Name

During Thursday’s episode of The View, the panel debated the White House’s recent decision to bar an Associated Press (AP) reporter from the Oval Office. 

The ban was reportedly in response to the news outlet’s refusal to refer to the Gulf of Mexico by its newly proposed name, the Gulf of America, following Trump’s rebranding efforts.

While the conversation initially focused on press freedom and the government’s role in media relations, Behar took the discussion in an unexpected direction.

“This country that we’re in was settled by indigenous people, right?” Behar stated. “And yet, they named the country after an Italian white man, Amerigo Vespucci. Why was it named after a white man if it was settled by indigenous people?”

Her statement drew mixed reactions from the panel and viewers alike. Some agreed with her frustration, while others felt the conversation had taken an unnecessary turn.

Alyssa Farah Griffin Tries to Offer Context

Alyssa Farah Griffin, the show’s conservative-leaning panelist, attempted to bring historical context into the discussion, emphasizing that America’s name wasn’t an arbitrary decision but rather a reflection of early cartographic traditions.

“It is North America. Mexico and the United States are both part of the Americas,” she said. “The name came from early explorers and mapmakers who used Amerigo Vespucci’s name to distinguish the newly discovered lands. It wasn’t necessarily meant to erase indigenous people.”

Co-host Sara Haines also chimed in, pointing out that renaming places and geographic features isn’t uncommon.

“The body of water south of China, which much of the world calls the South China Sea, is called different names by different countries,” she noted. “Vietnam calls it the Eastern Sea, and the Philippines refers to parts of it as the West Philippine Sea. It happens all over the world.”

Behar Links the Name Issue to Trump’s Priorities

Despite her co-hosts’ attempts to redirect the discussion, Behar remained frustrated, pivoting back to the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico. She argued that Trump’s focus on rebranding was misplaced given the country’s economic struggles.

“But why does he care about it when the prices are going up on eggs?” she asked. “People did not vote to rename the Gulf of Mexico.”

This sentiment was echoed by some viewers who felt that renaming a body of water wasn’t a pressing issue, especially when there are ongoing economic concerns.

More Criticism of Trump from Behar

Behar’s frustration with Trump isn’t new.

Just days before, she made headlines for suggesting that his push to eliminate the penny was motivated by “jealousy” of Abraham Lincoln.

“Trump has loyalty to no one. Look what he did to his first Vice President,” Behar said, referencing Trump’s strained relationship with Mike Pence. “I mean, he’s jealous of everyone. Now he’s getting rid of the penny—he’s even jealous of Lincoln. He’s so small and petty.”

Her ongoing criticism of Trump has made her a divisive figure in political commentary, with many conservatives dismissing her arguments as exaggerated or partisan.

Mocking Elon Musk’s Son Adds to the Controversy

Adding to the week’s controversies, Behar and fellow co-host Whoopi Goldberg also took shots at billionaire Elon Musk’s young son, X Æ A-Xii, after he made a White House appearance with his father.

During Wednesday’s episode, Goldberg mentioned Musk’s visit, stating, “Yesterday, Elon Musk took his son X to a press conference.”

Behar quickly interjected, “X?” with a confused expression.

Goldberg, shaking her head, responded, “I did not name the child, and I don’t want to hear any more mess about our names.”

Behar continued, sarcastically referring to the child as “little Instagram,” seemingly trying to poke fun at Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). However, she was quickly corrected—Musk does not own Instagram, which is under Meta’s umbrella.

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