Elisabeth Hasselbeck Leaves 'The View' To Join 'Fox & Friends'

Elisabeth Hasselbeck made her last appearance on The View after announcing yesterday that she is leaving the show to replace Gretchen Carlson on the popular FOX News program, Fox & Friends. Hasselbeck joins Fox & Friends cohosts Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade. Carlson is reportedly leaving her post at Fox & Friends for her own program on Fox News in the fall.

“I have been a long-time fan of Fox & Friends and am excited to be joining their team in September as it is an honor to call the Fox News Channel my new television home,” Hasselbeck said in a statement.

Since joining The View in 2003 after a competing in Survivor: Australian Outback, Hasselbeck has become one of the most politically active cohosts of the female-driven talk show. She is especially known for her more conservative, Republican views – often making headlines due to her heated debates with her more politically liberal cohosts.

“[Hasselbeck] stood behind her political views even if they were not the most popular opinions at the table never shying away from voicing a difficult question. We thank Elisabeth and wish her luck as she begins this new chapter of her career,” ABC said in a statement.

In 2008, she hit the campaign trail with Sarah Palin, who also regularly appears on various Fox News programs.

Fellow cohost and creator of The View, Barbara Walters, who previously denied rumors of Hasselbeck’s exit, had nothing but well wishes for her ex-cohost. “We have had ten wonderful years with her and she will now be swimming in new waters. We will miss her and wish her everything good,” Walters said in a statement.

Hasselbeck is not the only one leaving The View this year – Joy Behar announced in March that she would not be renewing her contract when it ends in August, and Walters herself has plans to retire in 2014.