Meghan McCain returned to co-host The View Monday morning after taking a brief hiatus from the show to mourn the loss of her father, Sen. John McCain, who died of brain cancer on August 25.
In an emotional segment on the live ABC daytime talk show, Meghan took a few minutes to thank her fellow co-hosts, the viewers, and American people for their love and support.
"I have missed all of you so much," she began. "I have a lot of things to say and it's probably the only time I'll get a segment to myself, so I want to thank ABC and The View for giving me this time, and I really want to thank all of America for being so kind to my family."
The 33-year-old host then shared how she was so moved by how people all over the country paid tribute to her father, adding that they were of "all races, all age, all creeds out there with American flags waving, saluting, praying, everyone. He would have loved it."
"He believed America is the greatest country in the history of the world," Meghan continued seemingly taking another jab at Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan. "He believed that when your candidate's opponent says something racist in a rally, you push back. That is John McCain and that is what America is."
Meghan then turned her focus to the other co-hosts at the table and said amid tears,"Whoopi, my father loved you. He loved you ... and I love you." The women then hugged, and Meghan added how Whoopi allowed her to cry in her dressing room "all year last year."
Looking at Abby Hunstman, Meghan recalled how she was with the newest The View co-host when she learned of her father's diagnosis. "[Abby] was heavily pregnant and she watched me down Jack Daniels after Jack Daniels, and then I threw up and her sister held my hair back," she said.
After sharing a few kind words about Sunny Huntsman, guest co-host Yvette Nicole Brown, and Joy Behar, who was absent Monday, the women then complimented Meghan for being so strong during such a difficult time.
"You don't realize this, but you are an inspiration to everyone in this audience," Abby said. "[Not just] all of us at the table, but people around this country."
Meghan attributed her strength to her faith, and the support of Joe Biden and Joe Lieberman, whom she said "really gone above and beyond." However, Meghan also commended her late father, adding, "Some fathers raise their daughters to be seen and not heard, they raise their daughters not to speak out. Raise strong women! Really, the only thing that is keeping me right now is how tough he made me!"
