“The View” co-host Meghan McCain erupted on her co-hosts and audience members for cheering on the retirement of Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., warning them that “Trumpism” is coming next.
Ryan announced on Wednesday morning he will not be seeking re-election and will retire at the end of his term in January, news that garnered a round of applause from “The View” live audience and a look of sorrow from McCain.
“The cheering kind of surprises me a little bit because Paul Ryan is a politician of an era gone by,” the conservative pundit said before defending his record in office.
“He was a really classic conservative, and this party is the party of Trump now,” she continued. “People like me who are old-school conservatives, we’re really on our way out, and it makes me really sad.”
McCain, who hasn’t shied away from sharing her disdain for President Trump and his policies, speculated that Ryan is leaving his position since the GOP is being taken over by populism, and he’s tired of defending the president.
She went on to warn people they will be sorry for cheering on the departure of Ryan and other moderate Republicans who have decided to hang up their hats and leave Washington and that the hatred of those like Ryan is how we “got Trump.”
“The people that are cheering, do you know what comes in his place? Trumpism,” McCain continued. “And I assume if you don’t like Paul Ryan, you probably hate Trump more, so maybe don’t cheer when people like Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney and Trey Gowdy and people like Ben Sasse who are, thank God, still in office or maybe on their way out, because I assure you, what’s in its place you will like a lot less.”
When her co-hosts labeled him as an “enabler” of Trump’s policy, McCain erupted on them and asked what they wanted if “Paul Ryan isn’t good enough” which co-host Joy Behar said she wants him out of office.
“But that’s not logical. We live in a democracy, we should want two healthy parties,” McCain argued. “They are against each other, but if Paul Ryan is the greatest sin, this is how we got Trump. Because if Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney and people like this are the worst politicians, then you deserve Trump. He was trying to fight for democracy and ideals. Now, I have no idea.”
Despite previous feuds, Trump sent his well wishes to Ryan after he announced his retirement in a tweet, proclaiming that he will “leave a legacy of achievement that no one could question.”
