ABC interrupts The View for Trump's UN address, delaying Harris interview

ABC pre-empted part of The View on Tuesday to carry Donald Trump’s address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, delaying an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris that had been scheduled on the daytime panel. The disruption drew immediate reaction from viewers and fans on social media, who urged the network to return to Harris’s appearance.

During the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, world leaders gathered at the United Nations headquarters as Trump used the platform to criticize the body and frame U.S. policy on war and peace. ABC’s decision to switch away from The View briefly interrupted a program that has become a staple of daytime television, prompting a wave of posts from fans who said they wanted to see Harris instead of the address from the president. Viewers on X—the platform formerly known as Twitter—posted a flood of reactions, with some arguing that the network should “turn off” the Trump coverage to return to the talk-show interview and others saying they preferred to watch Harris.

ABC resumed regular programming at about 11:10 a.m. local time, by which point Harris had not yet taken the stage on The View. The pause, which affected the first portion of the program, left viewers uncertain when Harris would appear. The network later directed audiences to catch up on interrupted episodes via ABC’s website and its streaming platforms.

During her appearance, Harris reflected on the night of the 2024 election, describing a personal sense of grief that she said she had not felt in the same way since the passing of her mother. “That night I grieved in a way that I have not since my mother died,” she said, adding that the pain was less about the loss of a race and more about what it could mean for the country.

The vice president also offered her assessment of factors that contributed to the election result, saying there were multiple dynamics at play and acknowledging what she viewed as a key limitation: time. “There are many factors, I think that played into the outcome of that election, but I think probably one of the biggest in my mind is we just didn't have enough time,” Harris said, explaining that the campaign lacked sufficient runway to articulate clear contrasts with her opponent.

Harris’s appearance on The View marked her first interview on the program since October 2024. In a prior televised moment, she had told viewers she would not seek to imitate or directly criticize her predecessor, President Joe Biden, but recent discussions on The View had focused on how she would differentiate her record and policy approach to voters. She indicated that while she believed she was presenting a distinct approach, timing and messaging were critical factors in electoral outcomes.

The View has been a frequent forum for the vice president to discuss policy and campaign-related topics, and this latest appearance followed a period in which the show’s editorial tone often weighed heavily on voters’ perceptions ahead of elections. ABC’s decision to pre-empt the show for a live international address underscored the ongoing tension between breaking news coverage and scheduled political interviews in live television.

Viewers who wanted to see Harris on The View can access full episodes through on-demand platforms, which was highlighted by ABC as the channel returned to normal programming. In the wake of the interruption, network representatives did not indicate any changes to Harris’s scheduled appearances, though viewers noted the disruption on social media and in online discussion forums.

The broader political conversation surrounding Tuesday’s events centered on how the UN General Assembly session is covered in American media and the extent to which presidential rhetoric at the UN is balanced against domestic political coverage. While Trump used the UN platform to criticize the body and articulate his positions on international conflicts, Harris was prepared to engage in dialogue about the nation’s priorities, economy, and foreign policy through The View’s format.

This episode of The View, and the audience reaction to the programming switch, reflects the ongoing media dynamics in which presidential coverage can influence the scheduling of high-profile political interviews. The public’s reception to Harris’s comments on the election and her reflections on time and messaging offer insights into how the public weighs leadership decisions and campaign strategy going forward. As November developments approach, outlets will continue to report on the interplay between major news events and the opportunities for visibility around key political figures.