Fox News Anchor Harris Faulkner Critiques ‘The View’ in Exclusive Interview, Calls Out Show for ‘Shouting’ and ‘Vitriol’

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner didn’t hold back in her assessment of The View, calling the show out for its reliance on shouting, “vitriol,” and what she described as a “myopic” worldview. Her candid remarks came after her show, The Faulkner Focus, beat The View in the ratings for the first time, marking a significant upset for the long-running ABC program.

Faulkner, 59, has always been outspoken about her views, but this interview marked one of her most direct critiques of her competition. “On The View, there is this sort of, shout it, cuss it, do whatever you gotta do to get a little more attention around the hot topics,” Faulkner said, suggesting that the show often resorts to exaggerated tactics to capture viewers’ attention.

This wasn’t just an offhand comment. Faulkner’s show The Faulkner Focus garnered 2.55 million viewers in January, slightly surpassing The View’s 2.51 million viewers. While both shows operate in different formats — The Faulkner Focus is live, while The View is pre-taped — the numbers still reflect a notable shift in the ratings landscape.

Faulkner expressed that one of The View’s biggest issues is its reliance on pre-recorded content, which she believes takes away from the show’s authenticity. “What I do think is unique to them is vitriol,” Faulkner said. “It’s not personal, but you gotta have the chops to be able to do it.” She went on to cite incidents involving The View co-hosts, including Sunny Hostin, whose on-air apologies Faulkner said reflect the “dicey” nature of the show’s approach to facts and its combative tone.

The Fox anchor reflected on her own 2018 appearance on The View, where Hostin diverted the conversation from her book to race. Faulkner, who is biracial and married to a Jewish man, was surprised when Hostin brought up her race and displayed a picture of Faulkner’s children on the screen. Faulkner appreciated Whoopi Goldberg’s intervention, which steered the conversation back to the topic at hand.

Over the years, The View has become a focal point of controversies, including Goldberg’s comments in 2022 about the Holocaust not being about race, and the 2015 incident where Kelly Osbourne made an offensive remark about Latinos. Faulkner commented on how the show’s approach has shifted, especially in comparison to the era when Barbara Walters, one of the show’s original creators, was leading the charge. “I’ve seen it when there was a powerhouse journalist,” Faulkner reminisced. “When Barbara Walters was leading it. But now, I don’t really know what the show is, apart from talk, talk, talk; a lot of combativeness.”

Live TV vs. Pre-Taped: A Key Point of Difference

A significant point Faulkner made in the interview was the difference between live television and pre-recorded programming. She strongly believes that live TV provides a unique advantage in terms of responsiveness and authenticity. Faulkner’s show, unlike The View, broadcasts live, and she highlighted how that helps her stay nimble and connected with the audience.

“Live TV gives us an edge because we’re constantly on our toes, reacting to breaking news as it happens,” Faulkner noted. She contrasted this with what she perceived as the less immediate nature of The View, pointing out that their pre-taped format often limits their ability to cover fast-moving stories. This live format, Faulkner argued, made The Faulkner Focus a standout in terms of engagement and relevance.

Controversies Beyond TV Ratings: A Personal Take on Transgender Activism

In the same interview, Faulkner also shared her personal views on transgender activism, particularly in the realm of women’s sports. Faulkner’s opposition to transgender women competing in women’s sports stems from her concerns for fairness, especially in light of her daughter’s achievements in gymnastics. “My youngest daughter just wrapped up eight years of gymnastics, and she won a gold medal in January. I want her to be safe and to feel like her best accomplishments matter,” Faulkner explained.

Her perspective on this issue, which she says is both a personal and political stance, was a significant part of the interview. Faulkner emphasized that she believes sports should be fair and competitive, and that the inclusion of biological men in women’s competitions compromises that fairness.

Family, Faith, and Personal Life

While Faulkner’s professional life remains a major part of the interview, she also opened up about her personal life, including her marriage to Tony Berlin, a former TV reporter turned media consultant. Berlin is Jewish, and Faulkner expressed her concerns for their biracial, Jewish children amid growing concerns over anti-Semitism, particularly on college campuses. “I really think it’s important for Jewish children on campuses to know that they have partners,” she said, acknowledging the growing tension around issues of race and religion in society.

Faulkner’s faith also plays a central role in her worldview. As a Baptist Christian, she shared how her upbringing in a military family shaped her into the driven, disciplined person she is today. “My father was military, and there were expectations of leadership in my household,” Faulkner explained. This military background, combined with lessons from her mother on self-care, has influenced Faulkner’s own approach to life and work.

A Final Dig at The View

Faulkner ended the interview by reaffirming her belief in the power of live TV and highlighting the competitive nature of her work. She reflected on how her approach to TV news sets her apart from The View and other competitors, citing the ability to cover breaking news in real-time as a key advantage. “We’re live, we’re not on tape. This is not hard,” she said with a grin.

Her competitive spirit was evident throughout the interview, as she acknowledged the importance of having good competitors to push her to perform better. “I like a good competitor, it makes me better,” she concluded. “So in some ways, whatever they have done over there, they’ve put me in a position where I can come out and win even more.”

As Faulkner continues to build momentum with The Faulkner Focus, it’s clear that she’s not just competing for ratings — she’s staking a claim as a force to be reckoned with in the world of cable news.