‘The View’ hosts claim ‘nobody wants’ voter ID, as polls show roughly 80% of Americans support it

The hosts of ABC’s “The View” attracted media criticism Wednesday after dismissing the SAVE America Act and insisting that virtually no one supports requiring identification to vote — comments that conflict with a broad body of public opinion polling.

The segment was triggered by President Trump’s decision earlier this week to cancel a planned signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing bill, declaring he would withhold his signature until Congress passes the election reform package. Mr. Trump announced the cancellation Wednesday on Truth Social, writing, “Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency.” 

Whoopi Goldberg opened the discussion on Wednesday’s program by characterizing Mr. Trump’s move as an act of sabotage against the housing legislation. Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin argued the SAVE America Act “doesn’t have the votes,” and Ms. Goldberg declared it would “force people to have ID when they come to vote. Nobody wants it.” Co-host Joy Behar echoed her, repeating, “Nobody wants it.”

Multiple national polls have found broad public support for voter ID requirements. An August 2025 Pew Research Center study found that 83% of U.S. adults support requiring all voters to show government-issued photo identification at the polls, while only 16% oppose the requirement. Gallup found similarly broad support in October 2024, with 84% of U.S. adults in favor of photo ID requirements — including 98% of Republicans, 84% of independents, and 67% of Democrats. Separately, 83% backed proof of citizenship for first-time voter registration. 

The SAVE America Act, formally known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections, and prohibit states from accepting registration applications unless the applicant presents such proof at the time of registration. New in this year’s legislation compared to earlier versions is a nationwide voter photo ID requirement at polling places. Those who lack an ID could cast a provisional ballot and would then have three days to present identification to election officials, or sign an affidavit attesting that they do not possess the required identification. 

The measure would require photo ID at polling places and proof of citizenship before a person could register to vote. It has been rejected by Democrats. Without Democratic support, Republicans are well short of the 60 votes needed to pass the legislation under the Senate filibuster rule. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday that the only viable path forward may be attaching the measure to a reconciliation bill. 

Ms. Behar added her own commentary, saying the legislation’s name was ironic.

“It’s called the SAVE America Act, which is ironic, because it’s not — it’s really saving his behind,” she said. “Save the Donald Trump Behind Act.”

Ms. Griffin and Ms. Behar also claimed the act would “suppress the vote” and could prevent “half” of America from casting ballots. No widely accepted study has concluded that roughly half of Americans would be unable to vote under the proposal.

Critics of the bill, including Democrats and voting rights organizations, have argued that around 21 million Americans do not have documents proving their citizenship readily available, and that low-income and minority voters are more likely to lack them. Utah recently completed one of the most comprehensive citizenship reviews ever conducted at the state level, examining more than 2 million registered voters, and found one confirmed instance of noncitizen registration and zero instances of noncitizen voting. 

As NBC News noted in March, the gap between the Democratic congressional position and public sentiment on the voter ID question has become increasingly difficult to defend — including within the party’s own base. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told colleagues that likening voter ID to Jim Crow “insults the overwhelming majority of Americans — including minorities — who look at voter ID and see nothing more than common sense.”

The SAVE America Act passed the House in February and remains pending in the Senate. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which passed both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support, awaits the president’s signature.