Fox News host Julie Banderas sparked a fierce reaction after making a controversial and vulgar comment about The View host Whoopi Goldberg during a live broadcast. The remark, which many considered distasteful, came after Goldberg criticized the Trump administration’s controversial plan to incentivize women to have more children by offering $5,000 cash bonuses to new mothers.

The incident unfolded after Goldberg expressed her strong disapproval of the initiative during a discussion on The View. “I am incredibly insulted by this because clearly they don’t know how women’s bodies work,” Goldberg said, referencing the proposal. She went on to question the effectiveness of a $5,000 incentive, stating, “I don’t know what $5,000 is supposed to do.”

Goldberg’s outspoken commentary did not sit well with Banderas, who responded on her show Outnumbered by mocking Goldberg’s stance. Banderas played the clip of Goldberg’s comments and sarcastically stated, “She’s such a lovely person,” followed by a pointed jab about Goldberg’s maternal status. “Isn’t she lovely?” Banderas asked, before continuing, “Such a shame she’s not a mother. I feel like she would have been the best role model. Thank god she did not do IVF, because I don’t think she’d find somebody to actually physically impregnate her, is what I’m trying to get at there.”

The comment, which was met with nervous laughter from the other hosts on Outnumbered, quickly ignited a firestorm of backlash. It also went unnoticed by Banderas that Goldberg is, in fact, a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Goldberg gave birth to her daughter, Alexandrea Martin, in 1974, and through her daughter, she has three grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Banderas Attempts to Clarify Her Remarks

After the segment aired, Banderas attempted to walk back her comment, saying, “Obviously I’m kidding about Whoopi Goldberg, I think it would be great if she had a child. I would just hope that maybe she would raise her children a little better.” She awkwardly added, “She has one kid,” before clarifying, “but, I mean, I don’t know. We don’t know much about that person.” Despite her efforts to backtrack, the damage had already been done. Many viewers expressed their discomfort with the unprovoked attack on Goldberg, with some criticizing Banderas for crossing a line between humor and personal insult.

Banderas’ comments also sparked a larger conversation about the role of women in public life and the ethics of making personal remarks about someone’s family. Critics argued that her attempt at humor overshadowed the more serious discussion about women’s rights and reproductive health that Goldberg had raised.

The Trump Administration’s Baby Boom Plan

The controversy between Banderas and Goldberg comes amidst growing debate over the Trump administration’s controversial plan to reverse the nation’s declining birthrate. As fertility rates in the U.S. continue to decline, President Donald Trump and his administration have put forward a plan aimed at incentivizing families to have more children. The plan includes offering cash bonuses to new mothers, with the goal of boosting the nation’s birthrate, which has fallen significantly since 1990.

Trump has embraced the title of “fertilization president” and has called the declining birthrate a “civilizational crisis.” His administration has pushed for policy changes to encourage family growth, including reserving 30% of Fulbright scholarships for applicants who are married or have children. In a related effort, Trump has announced a government-funded program to educate women on their menstrual cycles, aiming to help them better understand their fertility and when to try for a baby.

Vice President JD Vance has supported the plan, arguing that the childless left poses a significant challenge to the country’s future. He has blamed the growing trend of childlessness on “cat ladies” and “the childless left,” framing it as a threat to America’s demographic stability. Elon Musk, too, has made headlines with his comments about population growth, claiming that the world’s declining birthrate is a threat to the future of humanity. Musk, who has 14 children, has been vocal about the need for “high intelligence” to populate the planet and fulfill his vision of colonizing Mars.

The Cultural Conversation Around Motherhood and Family

The debate surrounding the Trump administration’s baby boom plan touches on broader cultural conversations about the role of women, motherhood, and family in American society. Critics of the plan argue that incentivizing childbirth in this way is a paternalistic approach to addressing complex societal issues, such as economic inequality, healthcare access, and the changing dynamics of family life. Others question the effectiveness of financial incentives in influencing personal decisions about having children, especially in a country with growing economic challenges.

At the same time, there has been a surge in discussions about the pressures on women to balance career ambitions with the expectation of motherhood. The #TradWife movement, which advocates for women to embrace traditional roles of wife and mother, has gained traction among some conservative circles. The movement has sparked debates about whether society is placing undue pressure on women to prioritize motherhood over their professional aspirations, and whether this shift represents a backlash against the feminist movements of the 20th century.

The Fallout From Banderas’ Comments

Banderas’ remarks about Goldberg have become part of this larger conversation, raising questions about how women in the media and public life are treated differently. Her comments, which some viewed as a personal attack, underscore the challenges women face when navigating the public spotlight—especially when they hold strong, controversial opinions.

While Banderas attempted to soften her words after the backlash, many felt that her comments about Goldberg were out of line and served to distract from important issues surrounding women’s rights and reproductive health. Public figures, particularly women, often find themselves subject to scrutiny and harsh judgment, but as this incident shows, it’s crucial to hold others accountable when personal attacks overshadow meaningful discourse.

What’s Next for Karoline Leavitt and the Debate on Reproductive Policy?

As the debate over the Trump administration’s baby boom plan continues to unfold, the confrontation between Banderas and Goldberg reflects the broader cultural divide that is shaping American politics today. Whether or not Leavitt’s inflammatory remarks will have long-lasting effects on her career remains to be seen, but the incident highlights the complexities women face in balancing professional ambition with societal expectations.

As for the future of Trump’s birthrate initiative, the country is still grappling with the broader implications of incentivizing motherhood, the challenges of economic stability, and the role of women in shaping the nation’s future. With public figures like Goldberg continuing to speak out on these issues, and Banderas facing the fallout from her words, the conversation about reproductive health, family, and women’s rights will only continue to evolve in the months ahead.

The fallout from this public clash between Leavitt and Goldberg may prove to be just one example of the intense ideological battles shaping American culture—and the media’s role in broadcasting those debates to the nation.