The View host Sara Haines acknowledged that there were “massive problems with insurance companies” that behave like a “criminal racket,” but slammed the cheerleading of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as “unacceptable” on Tuesday.
The panel were discussing revelations that have emerged after Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting, was arrested on Monday. Mangione was formally charged with murder, second-degree possession of a forged document, and both second- and third-degree criminal possession of a firearm.
Even as the manhunt for the perpetrator was underway, some health insurance industry critics fawned over CCTV stills of the killer released by police with some even going as far as to celebrate the crime.
As details about Mangione were shared on Monday by investigators and uncovered on the suspect’s social media feeds by online sleuths, hosts on The View reflected on his apparent motive, use of a 3D printed “ghost gun,” and identity.
Haines, in her contribution, lamented that Mangione appeared to be a “smart man” who could have used his “privilege” to bring about change in an industry that she argued was flawed:
I think there is a shock in finding out who it is just because this man could have changed things in this world. He had every privilege that could be given to someone ever. He came from a wealthy family, highly educated. Valedictorian of his class, all the things were there. He was a very smart person, and yet this is the option
he chose rather than going into a system and truly changing the ills and problems?I think there’s so many massive problems with the insurance companies. That is clear, and we all know it. It is almost like a criminal racket.
Pivoting, Haines slammed the response by influencers and public figures to the attack and suspect.
[Killing] is never the answer to that, and I’m actually more surprised by people’s continual response to this from Tiktokers to professors, podcasters… You can have all the rage in your heart at a system and still know that to pinpoint and put a target on the back of a human that is so far removed from fixing the problem… He may be a millionaire, you may hate people with money, all the things, you have to reflect on yourself if you at any point were gleeful about this because it is so disturbing to see the residual effect of how many people applauded this person as if this is how we live in this country or in this world and it’s unacceptable.
Watch above on ABC.