Overview
- On Veterans Day, Wednesday Nov. 11, Sunny Hostin said enslaved people “basically emancipated themselves” by joining the Union Army and argued Abraham Lincoln did not deserve primary credit for emancipation.
- Co-host Whoopi Goldberg pushed back on air, saying Lincoln “busted his butt” to secure emancipation and prompting an on-air dispute among hosts.
- Right-leaning outlets and commentators repeatedly circulated the clip and transcripts on Nov. 12–13 to criticize the remarks and to frame the segment as an example of sloppy or politicized history on daytime TV.
- Primary documents and National Archives analysis confirm Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, which declared freedom for enslaved people in rebelling states and authorized Black enlistment but did not end slavery nationwide until the 13th Amendment.
- The segment also included a separate factual error about the Electoral College affecting midterm Senate races, and the exchange has sharpened scrutiny of historical accuracy on The View while ABC has not issued a public correction.