Things got heated on The View when co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin tried to make a point about Trump’s proposed tariffs — and ended up sparking serious backlash for defending Elon Musk.
During a spirited “Hot Topics” segment, the panel was deep in debate over the economic impact of Donald Trump’s tariff plans. Farah Griffin, a former White House press secretary under Trump, made a comment that stopped the table cold.
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“I’m gonna be honest though, the poor and the rich alike are losing money,” she said. Then, she raised eyebrows by name-dropping the world’s richest man. “Elon Musk might’ve lost more money than anyone else on the planet.”
Her remark, based on reports that Musk’s net worth took a $30 billion hit following Trump’s tariff announcement, didn’t go down well. According to CNBC, Tesla shares took a major dive after the announcement, and with so much of Musk’s wealth tied to stock, the drop hit hard. But while the numbers may back her up, the context didn’t sit right with many.
The rest of the panel wasn’t having it. “Who also started with the most money?” one co-host shot back, pointing out the massive difference between a billionaire losing stock value and working-class Americans struggling to buy groceries or pay rent.
Farah Griffin tried to explain where she was coming from. “But that’s the point. He’s even hurting his wealthy friends,” she said, referring to Trump’s tariff policies. She even added, “Elon Musk, who I don’t agree with on much of anything, I don’t know why he’s overseeing DOGE, I’d actually love to hear from him on tariffs. He has experience running a business, he employs 100,000 people in this country, and he understands supply chains. This would be a good time for him to chime in.”
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But the damage was done, and viewers weren’t buying it.
Social media lit up with criticism of Farah Griffin’s take. One viewer posted, “I’m sick of Alyssa and Sarah giving Republicans credit. THEY PUT US INTO THIS MESS!!!!!!” Another added, “Yes, Alyssa. The poor and the rich are both losing money. However, Elon won’t feel it. The person who’s just trying to save some money for retirement will.”
The idea that billionaires like Musk should be held up as examples of shared financial pain just didn’t land well with The View’s audience. Especially when many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and feeling the effects of inflation, rising costs, and economic uncertainty every single day.
Farah Griffin’s attempt to highlight how Trump’s trade policies might also hurt the wealthy turned into yet another reminder of how out of touch it can sound when billionaires are framed as victims.
This article includes comments shared online by individuals and groups. Menz Mag hasn’t verified them and doesn’t endorse any of the opinions or claims.
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