Co-hosts of “The View” Meghan McCain and Joy Behar are arguing whether Antifa is a “fantasy.”
During Monday’s show, the co-hosts were weighing in on Sen. Ron Johnson‘s (R-Wisc.) suggestion that he would have felt more threatened during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 if it were Black Lives Matter and Antifa protesters storming the building.
McCain wanted to make one thing clear during her remarks on the issue, “Antifa does exist. The Anti-Defamation League has come out and said that it’s a both dangerous and counterproductive organization. The actual Portland courthouse was set on fire this very weekend and federal officers had to deploy ‘munitions, tear gas, flashbang grenades at the courthouse.”
She continued, “What separates Antifa is their willingness to use violence.”
McCain argued the notion Antifa does not exist is “factually inaccurate and wrong and a lie.”
Watch the video below:
OUTRAGE OVER SEN. RON JOHNSON’S COMMENTS: The GOP senator says he didn’t feel “threatened” by Capitol rioters during the January insurrection but may have “been a little concerned” if it were “Black Lives Matter and antifa protesters”—the co-hosts react. https://t.co/mZmt06OIg9 pic.twitter.com/BWHtGLh7SU
— The View (@TheView) March 15, 2021
Behar mentioned comments made by FBI Director Christopher Wray about Antifa, “[He] says that ‘Antifa is an ideology, not an organization. There is no sign that they were involved in the Capitol siege.’ Let’s be clear.”
McCain stressed she was not saying Antifa was involved in the insurrection, she was explaining they “exist.”
The exchange grew heated as co-host Whoopi Goldberg attempted to end the segment.
“That’s all, I’m done,” Behar said.
McCain fired back, “You said it was a fantasy. You said Antifa doesn’t exist and it’s a fantasy like it’s a thought.”
Behar responded, “It’s an idea.”
McCain concluded, “No it’s not!”
Johnson defended himself after some accused him of racism following his remarks, as IJR reported.
He said “there’s no racism involved” in his comments, adding, “It has nothing to do with race. It has everything to do with riots. I completely did not anticipate that anybody could interpret what I said as racist. It’s not.”