ABC’s “The View” took aim at Spencer Pratt’s Los Angeles mayoral campaign this week, with several panelists questioning whether the reality television star has the experience needed to run the nation’s second-largest city while also warning about the growing role of artificial intelligence in political campaigns.
The heated discussion came as Pratt’s outsider campaign continues gaining traction online amid mounting criticism of incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, particularly over her administration’s response to January’s deadly wildfires that devastated parts of Los Angeles, including the Pacific Palisades where Pratt and his wife Heidi Montag lost their home.
Moderator Whoopi Goldberg said she was unsettled by an AI-generated campaign video tied to Pratt’s political movement and argued celebrity status should not be enough to qualify someone for public office.
“If they know what they’re doing, I welcome anybody who knows how to do this,” Goldberg said during the segment. “But if you’re going to be like the guy who’s already in charge, thank you, no.”
Goldberg also pushed back against the broader trend of celebrities entering politics without prior governing experience.
“Just because somebody is famous or is famous for something doesn’t mean they know what’s going on and how you are thinking and how you’re feeling,” she added.
LA is worth saving. Vote Spencer Pratt. pic.twitter.com/GpQpnfsuJe
— Charles Curran (@charliebcurran) May 5, 2026
Pratt, who rose to fame on MTV’s The Hills, has become increasingly vocal in local politics since the wildfires destroyed his home earlier this year. He has framed his campaign around what he describes as failed leadership by Bass and city officials during the disaster response and recovery process.
Recent polling suggests Pratt’s candidacy is drawing more support than many political observers initially expected. A May Emerson College poll showed Bass leading with 30%, while Pratt polled at 22%, narrowly ahead of City Councilmember Nithya Raman at 19%.
Co-host Sara Haines struck a more sympathetic tone, saying she understood why Pratt became politically active after personally experiencing the wildfire crisis.
“What I liked about Spencer Pratt throwing his hat in there is he was affected by the California wildfires and he decided, ‘I’m going to do something about it,’” Haines said.
Still, Haines expressed concern over the AI-generated content circulating online in support of Pratt’s campaign, particularly because some videos appeared to feature celebrities who never publicly endorsed him.
“Our brains aren’t designed to say, ‘Oh, that’s not really Hugh Jackman saying these things,’” Haines warned. There is no evidence that Jackman endorsed Pratt, despite his likeness reportedly appearing in one viral AI-generated video.
One of the videos, created by a Pratt supporter rather than the official campaign, depicts Los Angeles as a dystopian city overrun by corruption and crime. Pratt is portrayed as a superhero-style figure attempting to rescue the city, while Mayor Bass appears as villain-inspired characters including the Joker and Darth Vader.
Conservative co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin said the AI trend could become dangerous in political campaigns because of how easily voters can be misled.
LA is worth saving. Vote Spencer Pratt. pic.twitter.com/S9O8jvTz4I
— Charles Curran (@charliebcurran) May 11, 2026
“I think introducing A.I. into campaigns in general is super dangerous,” Griffin said. “I think it can be incredibly misleading. It makes people think there’s endorsements that aren’t taking place.”
Griffin also acknowledged there may be political space for a candidate like Pratt given growing voter frustration in Los Angeles but cautioned that running a city the size of LA requires far more than internet popularity.
“Getting elected is the easy part of the job,” Griffin said. “Governing three million people in Los Angeles — and fixing what is a broken system — is what’s hard.”
Goldberg immediately agreed.
“Yeah, you actually have to know what you’re doing,” she added.
Co-host Joy Behar strongly defended Bass while mocking Pratt’s entertainment background.
“So, Karen Bass has a JFK Profile in Courage Award,” Behar said. “She navigated California through the worst economic crisis since the Depression. Spencer Pratt was snapchatter of the year.”
Sunny Hostin also questioned Pratt’s qualifications, pointing to Los Angeles’ nearly $15 billion budget and the complexity of overseeing a city preparing for the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.
“We’re talking about a $14.9 billion budget for the city,” Hostin said. “It’s the second largest city budget in the country, and he is not qualified for it.”
Hostin noted that entertainers like Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger successfully transitioned into politics but argued both had more governing or leadership experience before taking office. She also rejected comparisons Pratt has made between himself and former President Barack Obama.
“You don’t have the same experience,” Hostin said. “You don’t have a law degree from Harvard Law School. You were not a senator.”
Instead, Hostin suggested Pratt should first seek a lower-level office, such as a city council seat, before attempting to become mayor.
Bass herself addressed the viral AI videos during a recent CNN interview, saying inflammatory content can have dangerous consequences.
“When you do that, and when your messages are so hateful and when you demonize people, then you do provoke people who are unstable, and you can jeopardize people’s safety,” Bass said.
As Pratt’s campaign continues to gain online momentum, the debate surrounding his candidacy is increasingly becoming about more than just celebrity politics. It is also raising broader questions about how AI-generated content, viral internet culture, and outsider candidates could reshape modern political campaigns.
