Sunny Hostin on Monday defended the treatment White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her family were subjected to at a Lexington, Virginia restaurant, arguing there were "consequences" for those who chose to serve in the Trump administration.
Hostin and her fellow co-hosts on ABC's "The View" were discussing the decision of the Red Hen restaurant owner to deny Sanders service on the basis that she worked for an "inhumane and unethical" president.
Joy Behar kicked-off the conversation by asking if there was any use in attempting to "shame members of the Trump administration" since they appeared to be "shameless."
"This Nielsen person, Sarah Sanders, I don't know – these people they actually are shameless," Behar said. "So what's the point of trying to shame them?"
Sarah Haines responded by castigating Trump's critics for being hypocritical in denouncing the president and his staff for acting a certain way, then turning around and doing the exact same thing.
"Also, you don't want to become what you are criticizing. If you're talking about an administration that does this to people and you say 'now I'm not going to serve you,'" Haines said. "What point are you making there? You just became what you hated and what you're standing up against."
Hostin, a long-time Trump critic, jumped into the conversation, declaring she disagreed and that there were "consequences" to the choices individuals make.
"There are consequences, there are consequences," Hostin said. "You know, you make choices."
She asserted it was inappropriate to compare the Sanders situation to the case of a gay Colorado couple, who was refused service at a Bakery on the grounds of religious liberty.
"People have been comparing this to the gay couple being refused service, well being gay is not a choice," Hostin said. "Choosing to stand up and be the face of this administration is your choice."
In the days prior to the incident at the Red Hen, two other Trump administration officials were accosted at Washington, D.C. restaurants. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was forced to leave a D.C. restaurant by a protest last week, and White House senior advisor Stephen Miller was accosted at a Mexican restaurant by a man calling him a "fascist."
Rep. Maxine Waters (D., Calif) defended those who go after members of the Trump administration – and encouraged more people to do the same – during an event on Saturday. Her comments were widely criticized by Republicans, Democrats – including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) – and members of the media.
Meghan McCain seemed to take umbrage at the insinuation from Hostin and those like Waters that individuals should be targeted and harassed on the basis of their employment.
"Can I ask a question?" McCain asked. "I pose the same question to you though. I have family members who work in the administration, would you not be comfortable going to dinner with them and with me?"
Hostin admitted she couldn't answer the question on the spot and would have to contemplate further.
"I don't know," she said. "I don't know."
The show's discussion came shortly after President Donald Trump weighed in on the issue on Twitter. The president defended Sanders and lambasted the treatment she and her family were subjected to from the restaurant.