During his appearance on The View to promote the new season of his Netflix show Fubar, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s remarks regarding immigrants having to “behave like a guest” in America drew strong reactions from the show’s hosts on Tuesday morning. The moment quickly turned contentious as the conversation centered around the expectations and realities of immigration, with Schwarzenegger’s comments prompting immediate responses from Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, and Sunny Hostin.
Schwarzenegger Outlines His Immigration Philosophy
Arnold Schwarzenegger, who previously served as governor of California, responded to questions about his perspective on the current immigration situation, referencing his own experiences as an immigrant to the United States. He expressed appreciation for the opportunities America has provided him, but emphasized his belief that immigration must occur through legal pathways.
“The key thing also is, at the same time, that we got to do things legal,”
—Schwarzenegger, former California governor.
“That is the important thing, you know?”
—Schwarzenegger, former California governor.
Despite attempts by host Sunny Hostin to interject, Schwarzenegger expanded on his viewpoint, stressing that those who break the law are undermining their own opportunities in America and should behave respectfully upon arriving.
“You got to do things legal. And those people that are doing illegal things in America, they’re the foreigners, they are not smart,”
—Schwarzenegger, former California governor.
“Because when you come to America, you’re a guest. And you have to behave like a guest.”
—Schwarzenegger, former California governor.
“Like when I go to someone’s house, and I’m a guest, then I will do everything I can — keep things clean, and to make my bed, and to do everything that is the right thing to do, rather than committing a crime or be abusive or something like that.”
—Schwarzenegger, former California governor.
The View Hosts Offer Immediate Rebuttals
As Schwarzenegger continued, he called for immigrants to repay the nation by contributing to their communities. The audience responded with applause, but co-host Whoopi Goldberg offered a different perspective. She reminded Schwarzenegger and viewers that the majority of immigrants are trying to make positive choices and follow the law.
“Right but, Arnold don’t forget, there’s a — 90% of the people who come here are trying to do the right thing,”
—Whoopi Goldberg, The View moderator.
“And a lot of what’s happening right now is people are getting snatched, who shouldn’t be snatched out of the country. People who have visas, people who have all those things. So, we want all the right people. We don’t want people who are doing bad stuff.”
—Whoopi Goldberg, The View moderator.
Sunny Hostin was finally able to chime in with a key statistic, highlighting that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native-born Americans.
“They are less likely, immigrants are much less likely to commit crimes in this country than actually American-born citizens,”
—Sunny Hostin, The View co-host.
Debate Reflects National Immigration Tensions
The on-air exchange underscored deep divisions and passionate opinions on immigration policy, especially regarding who ought to be held accountable and expectations of conduct for newcomers. Schwarzenegger’s comments reveal a belief in personal responsibility and gratitude from those who settle in the United States, referencing his own path as an example. Meanwhile, the hosts emphasized fairness and the importance of not generalizing or demonizing immigrants, referring to broader data and current events regarding immigrant detentions and deportations.
This discussion, centered on Arnold Schwarzenegger immigration comments on The View, highlights the ongoing complexities surrounding the topic in the American political and cultural landscape. As immigration remains at the forefront of national debate, moments like these contribute to the broader conversation about policy, perception, and community values.
