Sunny Hostin, co-host of The View, is under fire for equating the January 6 Capitol riot with the Holocaust and slavery. On the fourth anniversary of the 2021 insurrection, Hostin remarked, “I think we need to find moral clarity, you know, in this country.”
Hostin expressed her belief that some individuals have become less outraged about the event over time. “I remember after January 6, someone like Mitch McConnell placed the blame squarely on Donald Trump’s shoulders,” she stated. “But then we saw people backtrack and lose their moral center.”
She also referenced former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who previously suggested that the country should move on from January 6. Hostin disagreed: “I say, no, you don’t move on, because January 6 was an atrocity. It was one of the worst moments in American history.”
Hostin then compared the riot to the Holocaust and slavery, stating, “When you think about the worst moments in American history, like World War II, the Holocaust, chattel slavery – we need to never forget because the past becomes prologue if you forget and erase.”
Backlash on Social Media
Hostin’s remarks sparked outrage online. A clip of her comments was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the account StopAntisemitism, which condemned her comparison: “StopAntisemitism is sickened to hear The View host Sunny Hostin compare the January 6th insurrection to the Holocaust. Over 6 million Jews were massacred during the Holocaust. Comparing a riot to such a massive stain in history is nauseating at best.”
Many users criticized Hostin in the comment section, with one suggesting, “They really need to cancel this show.” Another wrote, “@TheView needs to be sued. This won’t stop unless they face legal repercussions.” Others called for her removal, with one saying, “Please get her fired.”
Hostin’s comments also drew criticism from CNN political commentator Scott Jennings, who addressed them during coverage of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential election certification. Jennings called the comparisons “unhinged and vile,” saying, “It was not a good day. Political violence cannot be condoned, but we can also be measured in how we view it in light of the rest of American and world history.”
He urged restraint: “People ought to take stock of their feelings and avoid minimizing other world events by comparing them to January 6.
