Meghan McCain was welcomed to the air Monday as the newest co-host of ABC’s The View.
McCain, the daughter of Arizona Senator John McCain, will represent a conservative perspective on the daily chat show.
She replaces conservative commentator Jedediah Bila, who exited The View last month.
McCain joins a panel that also includes moderator Whoopi Goldberg and co-hosts Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Paula Faris.
Most recently, McCain served as host on Fox News’ Outnumbered.
The View airs weekdays at 11am Eastern on ABC.
Senator McCain tweeted on Monday that he tuned in to the show to see his daughter’s first episode.
Meghan McCain was welcomed to the air Monday as the newest co-host of ABC’s The View
McCain, the daughter of Arizona Senator John McCain, will represent a conservative perspective on the daily chat show. She joins a panel that also includes moderator Whoopi Goldberg and co-hosts Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Paula Faris
Senator McCain tweeted on Monday that he tuned in to the show to see his daughter’s first episode
‘Congratulations on your first day on The View,’ the proud father tweeted on Monday.
‘Our family couldn’t be prouder of all that you continue to accomplish.’
‘I’m a little bit on sensory overload,’ she told ABC News after her first show.
‘It’s an incredible show to be joining,’ she said.
‘I’ve never joined a hit show. It’s a luxury to be able to come onto something that already has such a big following.’
In July, Senator McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer. Last month, McCain revealed his doctors gave him a ‘very poor prognosis’ when he first found out about the rare and aggressive brain cancer that he continues to battle
Meghan McCain joked to her new co-hosts that she hopes to ‘be the Jane Goodall of red America and explain my people to The View’.
She also wants her presence on the show to make conservatives more comfortable about appearing.
‘I hope that [President Donald] Trump and other conservative guests feel a little safer here with me here,’ she said.
‘Because I know there have been requests out to conservative politicians and they’re not saying yes and I hope I can change that.’
In July, Senator McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer.
Last month, McCain revealed his doctors gave him a ‘very poor prognosis’ when he first found out about the rare and aggressive brain cancer that he continues to battle.
The Arizona senator said his doctors told him at the time that his condition was ‘very, very serious’.
‘So I just said, “I understand.” Now we’re going to do what we can, get the best doctors we can find and do the best we can. And at the same time, celebrate with gratitude a life well-lived,’ McCain said during an interview on 60 Minutes.
Meghan McCain has kept a low media profile since the announcement. She flew out to the family’s Arizona home to spend time with her father.
Meghan McCain joins The View after a stint as a co-host on Fox News’ show Outnumbered
The father-daughter duo even posted pictures of themselves spending time with one another on social media.
Meghan McCain, 32, revealed on The View on Monday that her father was the first person she told about the new gig.
She said she revealed the news to him while he was in the hospital.
‘I said, “What do you think of this?” And he said, “Are you kidding? You have to do this”,’ she recalled.
‘[My parents] are endlessly proud and excited.’
Meghan McCain said on the show Monday that her father continues to undergo intensive treatment.
‘When you hear cancer, a nuclear explosion goes off in your life no matter who you are,’ she said.
‘I didn’t realize…how intense and disruptive and scary and hopeless and chaotic you feel all day long.’
The former Fox News personality added that she considers ‘doctors and nurses and cancer researchers…the real heroes in my life.’
Meghan McCain’s new job was widely rumored after Bila made the shocking announcement last month that she will be leaving her post at The View.
Bila’s announcement came a week after an uncomfortable on-air interaction between she and Hillary Clinton.
She replaces conservative commentator Jedediah Bila (seen far right), who exited The View last month. She is seen during an interview last month with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (far left). The View co-host Sunny Hostin is seen in the middle
When Clinton was promoting her book on the show Bila – who is openly conservative – asked if she thought her book was at all tone deaf.
‘To be fair, it hasn’t just been Republicans who have taken issue with writing the book,’ Bila began.
‘Some Democrats have come out as well. Former campaign surrogates of yours, for her fundraisers and said, “This book puts is in the past and we want to move forward, we want to figure out where to take this party, how to succeed in the future. And this places us in the past.”
‘How do you respond to Democrats also coming out in criticism of your writing this?’
Clinton responded to Bila to say that she thinks that before anyone criticize her, they should first read the book.
The source said there were staff who were upset about how Bila handled the interview because they were worried it would make the former Secretary of State less likely to make another appearance.
But representatives for the show deny the exit has anything to do with Clinton.
In fact, they told Page Six that they were pleased with how it all went down, saying: ‘Jed asked good questions during that interview and the producers were really pleased with how she handled it.’