'This was not an easy decision': Meghan McCain, 36, QUITS The View on today's show after four years (without telling her co-hosts in advance)
Meghan McCain has announced live on air that she is quitting ABC's The View after four years to raise her daughter in Washington DC, saying 'this was not an easy decision'.
DailyMail.com had revealed earlier on Thursday that the 36-year-old was stepping away from the daytime talk show at the end of the month with two years remaining on her contract.
Her co-hosts, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro, were not aware prior to Thursday that McCain had resigned, a source told DailyMail.com.
McCain addressed her resignation during the The View's opening segment, saying: 'I'm going to rip the bandaid off'.
'I am here to tell you - all of my wonderful co-hosts and viewers at home - that this is going to be my last season here at The View.
'It's not easy to leave but I feel like this is the right decision for me at the moment.'
Meghan McCain announced live on air on Thursday that she is resigning from ABC's The View after four years to raise her daughter in Washington DC
McCain addressed her resignation during the The View's opening segment, saying: 'I'm going to rip the bandaid off'. Her co-hosts, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro, were not aware prior to Thursday that McCain had resigned, a source said
The outspoken co-host said she had built an 'incredible life' in Washington DC after leaving New York City while she was still pregnant with daughter Liberty during the COVID pandemic.
'When I think about where I want Liberty to have her first steps, her first words - I just have this really wonderful life here that ultimately I felt like I didn't want to leave.'
McCain also praised her co-hosts, who she regularly spars with on the show, saying it had been 'one of the greatest, most exhilarating, wonderful privileges' of her life working on The View.
'It is a privilege to work alongside such strong, brilliant, intelligent broadcasters... You are the most talented women on all of television,' she said of her co-hosts.
Speaking about when she first landed the role, McCain said: 'I didn't want to join the show as I think I've talked about it in the past. It was my dad who encouraged me to do it. He was right.'
McCain, who isn't leaving until the season ends at the end of July, quipped: 'I will still be here another month so if you guys want to fight a bit more we still have a few more weeks.'
Her co-hosts took turns praising McCain following the announcement, describing her as 'tough' and acknowledging her 'important point of view'.
Joy Behar, who McCain clashed with regularly over their differing political opinions, commended her for sticking her neck out on the show.
'You and I have had some fights and disagreements. You and I have in common where we're on a show where we stick our necks out. We stick by our points of view. You've done that brilliantly for four years,' Behar said.
'You're no snowflake missy.'
The source added that her co-hosts, including Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro, 'are not yet aware that Meghan has resigned'
McCain is pictured above with mother Cindy McCain and her daughter Liberty
The View and ABC had fought to keep McCain on the show, according to DailyMail.com's source.
'We have tried to keep her, but she is adamant that now is the right time for her to leave,' they said.
ABC News issued a statement after the segment aired, saying: 'For the past four years, Meghan McCain has brought her fierce determination and vast political knowledge and experience to The View.
'She recently came to us with her decision to depart the show at the end of this season, a difficult choice that she made for her and her family that we respect and understand.
'We wish the best for Meghan as she plans her next chapter, and thank her for the passion and unique voice that she shared with us and our viewers each day.'
The outspoken daughter of the late Senator John McCain has become a leading Republican voice in the media over the years. She and her father are pictured with co-host Whoopi Goldberg
She has been married to her husband Ben Domenech since 2017 and the pair welcomed their first daughter Liberty in September last year
McCain joined the show back in October 2017.
The outspoken daughter of the late Senator John McCain has become a leading Republican voice in the media over the years.
Prior to her hosting gig on The View, McCain was propelled onto the media scene as a columnist for The Daily Beast, a Fox News host and an MSNBC contributor.
McCain launched a docuseries in 2013 - Raising McCain - in which she was followed around the country covering current events and topics, including feminism and bullying.
She then went on to host the late-night news program 'TakePart Live' on Pivot TV.
McCain is also a New York Times best-selling author having published her first book in 2008: My Dad, John McCain.
She has been married to her husband Ben Domenech since 2017 and the pair welcomed their first daughter Liberty in September last year.