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BeforeAlyssa Farah Griffinwas namedThe View’s newest co-host, she did what any good future employee would do: she checked in with someone who used to work there.
The 33-year-old California native chatted with PEOPLE on the day herViewgigwas officially announced (Aug. 4), revealing that before the ABC daytime show’s viewers learned she had landed the job, she asked former co-hostElisabeth Hasselbeckfor some guidance.
“I had a fabulous conversation with Elisabeth,” said Farah Griffin. “I was a huge fan of hers; we’re both Christians, we’re both people of faith, and I watched her for so many years, so that was the dream person I wanted to talk to ahead of the announcement.”
Farah Griffin — who was former Vice PresidentMike Pence’s press secretary and the youngest Pentagon press secretary in history before serving as White House director of strategic communications under former President Donald Trump — went on to say that Hasselbeck gave her “very good advice.”
“She said, ‘Own your chair. You are not there just representing yourself, but [also] conservatives or right-of-center people, many in the middle of the country, who often feel like their voices aren’t heard. So [stand] firm in your convictions, but be gracious in your delivery,'” Farrah Griffin recalled. “And that is what I’m trying to do.”
PEOPLE: Congratulations on the official announcement. After 30 visits to the show, it must feel nice to know you’ll be a co-host on your next one!ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN: It is, thank you. I am just thrilled, honored, humbled, so many words. But it finally feels real. I’ve known the news for a little bit, and finally having it come out was just, it’s a dream come true. So I’m just so excited.
Lou Rocco/ABC via Getty
What was it?The show just has a way of driving news; of driving the conversation. And it’s not just politics, but it’sculture. It’s an incredibly powerful platform. Among the millions of viewers are a diverse crop of people. It’s women, it’s men, it’s gay Americans, it’s straight Americans; the age range is vast; There’s people from different socioeconomic brackets. There’s something that really brings people together about the format. You look at this table and these women may have nothing in common, but there’s a bond; there’s an affection there. They’re willing to tackle tough issues in a way that, frankly — as somebody who spent my life in politics — our political leaders aren’t even willing to do as forcefully. So I think it’s inspiring to people, honestly.
That’s a different approach, certainly than we’ve seen in the past.Well I want to model what we’re often not seeing in our elected officials. I can disagree with you, and I’m going to, but I’m way more focused on advancing good, on advancing bringing people together and leaving this era of just blatant toxicity behind us.
Brandon Bell/Getty; Drew Angerer/Getty
With Trump, I actually declined to work directly under him early when he came into office in 2017 because I had concerns about the man, who he was and the people around him. So I went to the Department of Defense, where I was the youngest Pentagon press secretary in history. We dealt with only apolitical matters. It was one team, one fight. Most of my colleagues were uniform military. I reported to civilian leadership and to four-star generals. It was a tremendous growing experience for me.
After those eight months, I went back to the West Wing, which I’m sure in so many people’s minds define me, but they’re only part of who I am. And what I would say is I could spend rest of my life debating if I ever should have gone there, but I know the growth that came from it. I know the voice I found from working for Trump and realizing that he is not a man I could ever support being an office again.
So you won’t be voting for him if he runs in 2024?He is wholly unfit to be in office.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty
Back in January, it was reported thatyou were part of a group of about three dozen erstwhile Trump advisers who were coming together to strategized ways to counter his effortsboth at this year’s midterm elections and in the 2024 race for the White House, which is almost certain to feature Trump. Is that group still active?It took on another form and while I’m friends with the people involved, I’m not active in it. [Former Department of Homeland Security Chief of Staff] Miles Taylor — someone who I think super highly of, hefamously wrote the anonymousNew York Timesop-ed— he’s taken it a direction of trying to start a third party.
Do you think a third party is a good idea?This is something I’d love to talk about on air. Third parties don’t work in our current climate, and I actually think could end up doing more to boost Trump than to hurt Biden. So I support him in that I root for the best for him, but I can’t get behind that effort personally.
I am still a registered Republican. I have no intention of changing that. This is a party that believes in a strong national defense … something that is personal to me, [having been] at the Department of Defense when our air bases were attacked. It is near and dear to my heart. But I also care about creating the most inclusive economy that brings the most people up, and gives them a chance at their own American dream is something I care so much about.
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You’re a Republican but how would you describe yourself? You’re clearly not a “Trump Republican,” as a sect of the party now seems to identify. Are you a liberal Republican?I’m a conservative Republican. But not to get into policy, my party needs to change. I am adamantly, fervently, proudly pro-marriage equality. I have been since I stood on the steps of the Supreme Court in 2015, whenObergefellcame down. I am going to be outspoken that my party needs to codify [marriage equality] into law. It needs to come into the 21st century. So I want to be part of the fixing what the future of the Republican Party should be in casting behind us into the ash heap of history whatDonald Trumphas done to it.
It’s going to take the audience getting to know me. And the great thing aboutThe View, we have such loyal viewers. So I think the more they get to know me, the more they’re going to understand we can be reductive how we look at people in public life. But there’s 50 shades of nuance to my views, to my background. And you’re going to see that as we talk about these huge issues that we are tackling going into the midterms, going into 2024.
Erin Scott/Bloomberg via Getty
That day — Jan. 6, Jan. 7 — I knew certain relationships were probably broken beyond repair. Not on my end, but people who would see me as disloyal, no longer part of the team. And I’ve made a great deal of peace with that. I do still have some incredibly valued friendships with people I serve with in the White House. I’ve talked about how Cassidy Hutchinson, who spoke out so bravely and so boldly in the January 6th committee hearings, was my closest friend in the White House. In fact, my husband told her before he was going to propose to me so I’d remember to get my nails done because that’s just not something I remember to do. We were very, very close. We remain close. And Sarah Matthews, who herself has come forward, is someone I’m close with. And I’ve relied on these women for strength in this post-White House era.
But one thing I want the viewers to know is just because I’m no friend of Donald Trump’s —he’s attacked me personally many times— doesn’t mean I’m not extremely tied in in Republican politics. Governors call me, presidential hopefuls call me, I talk to a lot of House and Senate members… I’ve had great longstanding relationships. What I find is a lot of Republicans are much closer to where I am privately, they just don’t feel empowered to be there publicly. So I still consider myself very much a Republican insider, just not a Trump insider.
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Alyssa Farah Griffin (R) onThe View.Lou Rocco/ABC/Getty
You sang the praises of your newViewco-hosts on Thursday’s show, but added, “I can’t say how much I’ve learned from all of you.“I had something prepared for each of them and had I had more time, I would’ve said it on air! I adore them.
Let’s hear it now; what have you learned from them? We can start withSunny Hostin.Sunny, I adore her. She’s brilliant. She is important for me to have gotten to know because we come from such different backgrounds and lived experiences. We can all be guilty of falling into our echo chambers, surrounding ourselves with people saying certain things so you see it that way. But one episode — I wasn’t on, I was just watching as a viewer — Sunny gave a really passionate appeal on why she cares about critical race theory and why she wants it to be taught. She explained it and walked through, as a parent, why that’s something so important to her. And in my Republican circles, I have my views which are much more nuanced. I’m open to critical race theory, so long as the parents support it. But in my Republican circles, all I’m hearing is, “no parent wants this.” So to hear that from a mom who loves her two kids so much, explaining why she sees it important to their upbringing, I just thought was so valuable. That’s one very specific thing, but she’s a tremendous woman.
Joy Behar?Joy’s so strong in her convictions, but she has a way of delivering the toughest blow with humor. Humor is one of the greatest healers and our country needs more of it. So even if it’s a whole riff on, “Holy crap, where’s our country going?” — Joy’s able to bring it back down. That’s why she’s had such a fan base for so long, because you want to know the truth; you want to be told the truth, but you want to also feel good; and you want to feel hopeful, that things could be better.
Lou Rocco/Getty
Sara Haines?Sara is kind and thoughtful. She probably holds the viewpoints of the most people I know. I run in Republican circles, but the moderate thoughtful, it doesn’t fit into any one box. Sara’s ability to articulate it, and to do it gracefully, I find so inspiring. She’s virtually never combative.
What aboutAna Navarro, who wasalso announced as a co-host with you on Thursday?Ana also has an extraordinary sense of humor that makes her points almost more powerful. She did a shtick on when so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill came down in Florida. She wore a rainbow dress and was like, “This is my protest.” Those viral moments pack more punch off often than the best-written press release.
And finally,Whoopi Goldberg?Look, I don’t need to tell you, Whoopi’s an icon. People love her. They adore her. I followed her career my entire life. She resonates with people. She’ll tell the audience, “Don’t let anyone tell you things are decided. This is where the country’s going. It’s up to you. Vote. Use your vote.” And she’s spoken to me privately about how, as a Black woman, it’s important to cherish, capture and encourage others to use their vote because she didn’t always have it. Women didn’t always have it.
Season 26 ofThe Viewkicks off Sept. 6 on ABC (check local listings).
source: people.com
