ABC is celebrating the recent spike in viewership for its show, The View, following the guest appearance of Vice President JD Vance. The episode drew 3.3 million viewers, marking the most-watched broadcast in over 18 months. This comes amidst Disney and ABC’s ongoing battle with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over whether The View qualifies as a bona fide news program.

ABC News highlighted the viewership achievement without mentioning the FCC. The network has launched an on-air and online campaign, including a petition that argues The View should be considered a news interview program, exempt from the equal time rule. This rule requires all political candidates to have equal airtime, and Disney’s ABC contends that The View meets the criteria to be exempt.

“The View has welcomed your favorite guests for nearly 30 years. Now the FCC wants to control who is allowed to appear on the show. Tell the FCC to let the viewers decide.”

The FCC has accused Disney of misleading viewers, while the Media Research Center (MRC) has submitted a letter claiming the show fails to meet bona fide news standards. The MRC stated that their evidence showed The View promotes one-sided political viewpoints and should not receive special regulatory treatment.

Earlier this year, the FCC initiated an investigation into The View over equal time policies after Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico made an appearance. The commission emphasized that no late-night or daytime talk show currently qualifies for the news exemption. ABC fired back, criticizing the FCC’s actions as detrimental to First Amendment rights.

Historically, The View has been critical of Trump and his administration. In 2025, it hosted 341 guests, with a heavy tilt towards liberal representation. Only two guests were conservative, suggesting an imbalance in political viewpoints. Despite Vance’s successful appearance, it remains uncertain if more Republicans will be invited to the show.