Bill Maher Criticizes Trump’s Offensive Video
Bill Maher didn’t hold back in his criticism of President Donald Trump’s recent online incident, where Trump shared a potentially racist, AI-generated video that portrayed former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as monkeys.
During the February 6th episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, the 70-year-old host addressed the controversy after Trump, who is 79, briefly posted the offensive clip on Truth Social before removing it.
Maher highlighted the timing of the post, pointing out that it coincided with Black History Month. He humorously suggested that the Trump administration seemed to be marking the occasion with “a moment of indifference.”
“Actually, they did worse,” Maher remarked. “Trump did Roseanne” [Barr]. He referenced a video where visuals of black individuals were superimposed on monkeys, specifically the Obamas. “I don’t want to show it because I don’t want to give it oxygen,” he added.
He also took issue with the administration’s response to the backlash, describing it as weak. “I think the regime’s defense was pretty lax,” Maher said. “They claimed he didn’t mean to hit ‘share.’ He actually meant to hit ‘like.’
Then, Maher shifted focus to Presidential Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt, noting her dedication before questioning the validity of her defense. “She said the president was merely reposting a meme that made him, the king of the jungle, as a character from ‘The Lion King’ to Democrats,” Maher recounted. “Just like the world leaders are doing.”
Maher disagreed with Leavitt’s explanation, outlining what he saw as two significant issues. “First, there are no monkeys in ‘The Lion King,'” he stated. “And second, is it permissible if it’s a cartoon character? Is that the guideline now? Can I create a cartoon where Elmer Fudd shoots Charlie Kirk? You hypocrite.”
In a separate exchange with former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Maher expressed his concerns about the upcoming election. The two debated Trump’s influence over the Republican Party. Christie cautioned about a rising trend among some Republicans aiming to control election processes, including voter eligibility, while Maher remained skeptical about the severity of the situation.
Real Time with Bill Maher airs Fridays at 10/9c on HBO.
