Meghan McCain Bids Farewell to The View: 'The Best of Times, The Worst of Times'

Meghan McCain's time on The View has officially come to an end. The ABC daytime show said goodbye to its resident conservative this morning with a pre-taped episode that looked back at her best (and worst) moments of the past four seasons. McCain's mother, Cindy McCain, and Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema were on hand for the farewell, both sharing well wishes for the firebrand as she embarks upon a new chapter of her career.

After a quick Hot Topics segment about personal conflicts with unvaccinated friends, The View turned things over to Sinema, who spoke about her friendship with McCain. "We're both tough as nails, and we're both fiercely independent," said the moderate Democrat. "Those similarities brought us together over the years, and we just struck up a good friendship." Sinema joked that the two are often "texting in the middle of the night," before wishing "Meghan well on her next endeavor."

"I'm so honored you came for the last show, Senator. I know you don't do that many interviews, so I'm just so thrilled," said McCain. "I just want to thank you for your friendship, and I think you really represent Arizona in the most incredible way. I think you're the perfect person to represent Arizona. You're an independent thinker, you're a maverick ... I just really am proud to have you representing us even though you're a Democrat and I'm a Republican, and god forbid we can support each other!"

Arizona @SenatorSinema on her friendship with @MeghanMcCain: "Meghan and I have a lot in common. We're both from Arizona, we love cacti. I think we're both tough as nails, and we're both fiercely independent."

"Those similarities brought us together over the years." pic.twitter.com/gwKt8M3aXB

— The View (@TheView) August 6, 2021

Save for a hard-hitting question from Sunny Hostin about her opposition to ending the filibuster, Sinema's appearance on The View went smoothly, and the show quickly transitioned into an interview with Cindy McCain. "I am so proud of Meghan, and what I look forward to, in many ways, is to be able to see more of her and certainly see more of my granddaughter, Liberty," said the McCain matriarch. "I think she's done a wonderful job. I love her independence. Her dad would be so proud of her."

Hostin then reminded viewers that McCain joined The View at the urging of her father, the late Sen. John McCain, and she asked Cindy why they thought the show would be a good fit for their daughter. "He was adamant because he thought it would be a good format for her — as you know, we used to call her John McCain in a dress when she was little. So, we knew she could do it," she said. "We knew she had the ability to make waves or deal with controversy, all the things that you do so well on this show. And he also wanted her to have an opportunity to really express herself and spread her wings a little more. It was really his suggestion and his idea that she do this when offered the job. And I know he's very proud of her right now. I know he is."

.@cindymccain reflects on her daughter @MeghanMcCain’s time on @TheView, telling us that Sen. John McCain would be “so proud” of their daughter.

“I wish her the best in whatever endeavor she chooses to do.” https://t.co/kS1p3Jmn3v pic.twitter.com/lHYi5yJE8s

— The View (@TheView) August 6, 2021

"I didn't die, I'm just leaving the show!" replied the conservative co-host. "I feel like I died and this is my memorial! You guys, I'm still here. You can come to D.C. and see me any time."

"Every time someone leaves, it sounds like a funeral," Joy Behar assured her. "This is nothing new. It's always like that — don't pay any attention."

But the goodbyes weren't over quite yet, as The View had a special surprise for McCain: a video message from Paul Ryan, her favorite politician (McCain famously had a shirtless photo of him in her dressing room). Like Sinema and her mother, Ryan wished McCain well, and he assured her that she's making "the right decision" when it comes to securing a "work-life-family balance."

The View then played a highlight reel of McCain's most memorable moments, including interviews with her father, conflicts with guests and co-hosts, and even Saturday Night Live's parody of the show.

With just a few minutes left in her final episode of The View, McCain thanked her co-hosts and the show's producers for their support over the past four seasons. "I don't know what else to say other than thank you all so much, again, for the privilege and honor it has been for the past four years to work on this show," she said. "You women have been so incredible to work with. The crew, the producers, everyone works so hard. And honestly, the audience, giving me four years to give my opinion, show my perspective."

"This has been a really wild ride the last four years of my life. It's been the best of times, the worst of times, in all ways, on and off this show," continued McCain. "It's been a really incredible, liberating experience, and I will always cherish the time I spent with all of you. So, thank you all from the bottom of my heart."

.@MeghanMcCain shares her final words as co-host as she leaves @TheView: “Thank you all so much again for the privilege and honor it has been for the last four years to work on this show. It really has been incredible.”

“This has been a really wild ride.” https://t.co/kS1p3Jmn3v pic.twitter.com/N4QhKngBfZ

— The View (@TheView) August 6, 2021

That's all she wrote, folks. It's the end of an era at The View.

The View begins its summer hiatus this coming Monday, August 9. It's expected to return to the studio after Labor Day for its landmark 25th season.

Claire Spellberg Lustig is the Senior Editor at Primetimer and a scholar of The View. Follow her on Twitter at @c_spellberg.