Matthew McConaughey Just Had a Very Tense Moment When Asked About This Important Political Issue on ‘The View’

Matthew McConaughey’s latest appearance on The View has people talking — and it’s not because he was giving The View co-host Joy Behar a foot massage on television.

The actor and author appeared on the show to promote his latest writing endeavor, a children’s book titled Just Because. As the hosts and McConaughey bounced around from topic to topic, one particular moment felt much more intense than the rest of the show. Sunny Hostin brought up how McConaughey had considered running for governor in his home state of Texas in 2021 before ultimately deciding to prioritize his family, asking if he would ever consider running for office again.

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“As far as office, I will always measure what category I can be most useful,” he explained. McConaughey’s political involvement in the past has reflected this ideology. Following last year’s shooting at Robb Elementary School in McConaughey’s hometown of Uvalde, Texas, the actor advocated for victims and their families and created the Greenlights Grant Initiative. The program assists low capacity, high-need school districts with applying to government-funded school safety grants.

“Do you think you can be elected in Texas being anti-gun?” Behar asked. This is where things got tense, fast.

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“Do I think I can get elected in Texas being anti-gun?” he repeated before saying, “One thing about me and politics is, to give you a direct statement right there is me playing a game I’m not interested in playing,” he added. Behar added that he didn’t need to say anything if he didn’t want to, but the tension was still somewhat palpable as it cut to commercial break.

For those unfamiliar with McConaughey’s stance on guns, the actor wrote an op-ed following the Robb Elementary shooting advocating for “gun responsibility” as opposed to “gun control.”

“There is a difference between control and responsibility. The first is a mandate that can infringe on our right; the second is a duty that will preserve it. There is no constitutional barrier to gun responsibility. Keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous people is not only the responsible thing to do, it is the best way to protect the Second Amendment. We can do both,” the actor wrote in his op-ed for the Austin American-Statesmen.

The View host Sunny Hostin brought this viewpoint up during a more playful segment showing off a wax sculpture of the actor. “I did want to say that I’ve done a lot of research in terms of your advocacy, and I don’t know that you’re anti-gun, I think you’re pro-gun responsibility and legislation,” Hostin said before the wax figure was revealed.

Whether or not McConaughey ultimately runs for any sort of office, his willingness to engage in these discussions showcases his commitment to addressing pressing political matters. While his stance may not align with everyone’s beliefs, his dedication to fostering clear and open conversations — as opposed to just giving sound bite — is evident.

Before you go, click here to see celebrities who have run for office.

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