During a recent episode of The View, co-host Joy Behar speculated that former President Donald Trump’s decision to halt penny production was motivated by personal jealousy,
particularly of Abraham Lincoln. Behar and her fellow panelists discussed the announcement,
with Behar suggesting that Trump’s move was driven by pettiness rather than financial reasoning.
Behar’s Take on Trump’s Decision
The discussion on ABC’s The View took an unexpected turn when Behar criticized Trump’s latest policy move,
stating that his decision to end penny production was more about personal grievances than government efficiency.
“Trump has loyalty to no one. Look what he did to his first Vice President,” Behar said, referencing Trump’s rocky relationship with former Vice President Mike Pence. She then added, “And he’s jealous of everyone. Now he’s getting rid of the penny—he’s even jealous of Lincoln. He’s so small and petty.”
Co-host Sunny Hostin chimed in, echoing Behar’s sentiment. “Small and petty, absolutely,” Hostin agreed, reinforcing the idea that Trump’s motivations might not be purely financial.
Trump’s Justification for Ending Penny Production
Trump recently announced on Truth Social that he had instructed the U.S. Treasury to stop minting pennies, citing excessive production costs as the primary reason.
“For far too long, the United States has minted pennies that literally cost us more than 2 cents to make,” Trump wrote. “This is so wasteful! I have instructed my Secretary of the U.S. Treasury to stop producing new pennies. Let’s rip the waste out of our great nation’s budget, even if it’s a penny at a time.”
A 2024 report from the U.S. Mint revealed that producing a single penny costs 3.69 cents, leading to a loss of approximately $179 million in 2023. The rising cost of raw materials has exacerbated the issue, with nickels also costing more than their face value to manufacture. The report stated that this marked the 19th consecutive year of pennies being more expensive to produce than they were worth.
Mixed Reactions to Behar’s Comments
Behar’s theory quickly gained attention online, with some viewers supporting her take while others dismissed it as baseless speculation. Social media responses on X (formerly Twitter) reflected a broad range of opinions.
One user wrote, “What an idiot! It was Obama’s idea initially to get rid of the penny! She just flaps her gums without doing her homework!” referring to past discussions about eliminating the penny that predated Trump’s presidency.
Another user argued, “The idea of axing the penny has been tossed around for years. They’re a pain and cost more to manufacture than they’re worth.”
Meanwhile, some critics turned Behar’s own words against her. “Behar and Hostin are well-practiced experts on ‘small’ and ‘petty,’” one comment read.
Broader Context: Government Spending Cuts
Trump’s move to discontinue the penny is part of a broader effort to reduce federal spending. His administration has introduced a number of cost-cutting measures, including controversial funding cuts to agencies such as USAID, the United States’ foreign aid agency.
Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has also taken a hardline stance on budget reductions, including eliminating funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. According to DOGE, the cuts have already saved $1 billion.
However, not everyone is on board with the administration’s aggressive cost-cutting measures. A federal judge in New York recently issued a temporary restraining order against DOGE’s access to the U.S. Treasury’s payment system. The order came in response to a lawsuit filed by 19 states, which demanded restrictions on financial data access for political appointees and external government employees.
The restraining order also mandated that any Treasury information obtained by DOGE employees or other outside personnel since January 20—Inauguration Day—be immediately destroyed. This ruling directly impacts Musk’s team at DOGE, limiting their ability to oversee financial transactions within the Treasury.
Trump’s Future Plans for Spending Reductions
Despite the backlash, Trump has signaled that his administration’s budget-slashing initiatives will continue. In a pre-taped interview with Fox News host Bret Baier before the Super Bowl, Trump revealed that he had directed DOGE to evaluate the Department of Education for potential cuts.
“I ran on this, and the people want me to find this,” Trump stated.
The former president’s appearance at the Super Bowl was also historic, as he became the first sitting or former president to attend the game. The event saw the Philadelphia Eagles secure a 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
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