Elisabeth Hasselbeck returns to The View next week as guest co-host

Show summary Hide summary

• 🔥 Quick Facts
• The 13-Year Gap Ends with Hasselbeck’s Dramatic Return
• Fan Reactions Range from Excitement to Boycott Threats
• The View’s Guest Co-Host Schedule for March 2026
• A Decade of Drama: What’s Changed Since She Left
• Will Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s Return Prove Controversial, or Will She Keep the Peace?
  • Sources

Elisabeth Hasselbeck is making her controversial return to The View next week. The former Survivor star last sat at the Hot Topics table from 2003 to 2013. Now she’s back as a guest co-host for an entire week, and not everyone’s happy about it.

The 13-Year Gap Ends with Hasselbeck’s Dramatic Return

Elisabeth Hasselbeck has been preparing for this comeback intensely. On February 27, 2026, she posted an Instagram story revealing her strategy. She held up an annotated Bible on her kitchen table, calling it her “armor” for the show.

But that wasn’t all. A close friend gifted her an actual tactical “Armor of God” playset. The kit includes a helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, belt of truth, and a spirit-of-the-world sword. Hasselbeck’s reliance on Christian faith is clear.

Fan Reactions Range from Excitement to Boycott Threats

The View announced Hasselbeck’s return on February 27, posting on social media that their “friend and former co-host” would join them. The response was immediate and polarized.

Many fans expressed plans to skip next week’s episodes entirely. But not everyone opposes the move. Joy Behar, commenting on the controversy, said simply: “She’s a good kid.” The show’s executive producer Brian Teta confirmed the announcement generated more reaction than most guest co-host reveals.

The View’s Guest Co-Host Schedule for March 2026

Week	Guest Co-Host
March 3-7, 2026	Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Coverage	Full week (Monday-Friday)
Regular Co-Hosts	Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro
Air Time	11:00 AM ET on ABC

“I’ve been trying to prep for The View, so my main research is right there. That’s the armor!”

— Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Instagram Story, February 28, 2026

A Decade of Drama: What’s Changed Since She Left

Hasselbeck’s original tenure was marked by passionate conservative takes that frequently clashed with her co-hosts. Her most famous feud was with Rosie O’Donnell in 2007, a conflict so contentious that O’Donnell left the show.

In 2025, O’Donnell resurfaced the rift in a podcast interview, calling the incident a “setup.” Hasselbeck responded with tearful Instagram videos, urging O’Donnell to “stop the madness.” The unresolved tension makes her return even more intriguing.

Will Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s Return Prove Controversial, or Will She Keep the Peace?

So why is Hasselbeck’s return generating such strong reactions after 13 years away? Her conservative viewpoints never changed. She’s actively commented on politics and culture during her absence.

Recently, she defended Carrie Underwood after Joy Behar criticized her Trump inauguration performance. She’s also publicly criticized The View itself, calling the show “sinking.” But will a week of sitting at that table bring reconciliation or renewed conflict?

Sources

• TV Insider – Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s return announcement and Armor of God gift story
• Entertainment Weekly – Details on Hasselbeck’s preparation and playset
• ABC Studios – Official View scheduling confirmation for March 2026