Comedian Bill Maher has expressed his perspective on the upcoming second term of the Trump administration, set to commence later this month. In an interview, Maher stated that he is not predisposed to “pre-hate anything,” opting instead to “hope for the best” with the new administration. However, Maher acknowledged that should any “serious” events transpire, he will address them on his show.
During a recent appearance on CNN’s “The Lead,” Maher shared his intentions regarding President-elect Trump, noting, “I’m not going to chase every rabbit down the hole like I did the first term.” Maher characterized Trump as “a kooky guy who says a lot of kooky things,” emphasizing his decision not to engage in preemptive criticism. He expressed his commitment to maintaining an open mind and commented, “I’m just going to hope for the best, and then when something serious happens, I’ll comment on that.”
As a vocal critic of Trump, Maher has previously warned of potential repercussions for voters in the event of a Republican victory in the 2024 presidential election. Despite predicting a victory for Vice President Harris in the previous November, Trump emerged triumphant, securing victories in all seven battleground states. Following the election outcome, Maher criticized the Democratic Party, attributing their losses in Congress and the White House partly to what he described as an “aggressively anti-common sense agenda.”
Maher affirmed his commitment to addressing Trump’s latest proposals on his HBO show “Real Time,” noting that although topics like the potential acquisition of Greenland and the idea of making Canada the 51st state may provide comedic material, he does not intend to take them seriously. In addition, Maher reiterated his stance on President Biden’s age, suggesting that Biden should withdraw from the 2024 presidential race to pave the way for an open Democratic National Convention.
Reflecting on his criticism of ageism, Maher highlighted his longstanding advocacy against age-based discrimination. He maintained that while age jokes and criticisms are common, his evaluation of Biden’s age was based on individual cases rather than a blanket judgment. Maher emphasized, “But this was a case, ok, where Biden was too old.”
In conclusion, Maher’s comments offer insight into his approach to the forthcoming political landscape and his stance on key issues affecting the current administration. His balanced perspective, coupled with a willingness to engage with significant developments, underscores his ongoing commitment to political commentary and critique.
