Joy Behar Surprised By ‘The View’ Guest Co-Host Amanda Carpenter’s Defense of Anti-ICE Demonstrations: “I Thought You Were A Conservative?”

Published Feb. 24, 2026, 12:00 p.m. ET

Amanda Carpenter seemingly took Joy Behar by surprise with a take of hers on The View on Tuesday.

On the subject of whether or not the co-hosts will be tuning in to President Donald Trump‘s State of the Union Address tonight, the guest co-host shared why she will be watching, citing her curiosity “to see how [Trump] handles spinning the brutal ICE tactics that he’s been using in places like Maine and Minnesota.”

“I’m curious to see what the Democrats will do because I just don’t feel like they’ve matched the energy of the activists there,” she added. “I need them to match that energy of the people who were in the streets.”

Behar asked, “You expect who to? The Democrats?”

After Carpenter confirmed she was referring to the Democrats, Behar quipped, “I thought you were a conservative?”

Carpenter replied, “Well, I am, and let me tell you what I’ve been working on.”

She proceeded to explain some of her work at Protect Democracy, which involved filing “a lawsuit against DHS representing people in Maine because they were exercising their legal rights to observe ICE activity.”

Photo: ABC

“And agents have been using facial scanners, they’re using license plates to follow them to their homes, and in our complaint we state that an officer told an activist who was legally exercising her rights that if you continue to do this, we will put you on a domestic terror list and we will come to your home,” she continued. “I’m a conservative because I’m terrified of out-of-control government, and I see this in the streets.”

Behar chimed in, “Good for you.”

Carpenter continued, “I need the Democrats to do more than wear a pantsuit, expressing solidarity, or waving a sign. They need to do something to push back on this…”

The View airs on weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.