What To Know
- Bill Maher urged Americans to celebrate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the U.S. regardless of who is president.
- He criticized Donald Trump for trying to conflate himself with the country.
- Maher highlighted the resilience of America’s system of checks and balances.
Bill Maher just issued a brutal takedown of President Donald Trump and an important reminder for Americans ahead of the July 4 celebration of the 250th anniversary of the U.S.
On the Friday, June 19 episode of Real Time With Bill Maher, the late-night host, 70, encouraged folks on both sides of the political spectrum to embrace their patriotism despite who is in charge of the country.
“Everybody has to start getting a little more excited for America’s birthday,” Maher said during his “New Rule” segment. “Come on, our big 250 is coming up. It’s on July 4, for the kids in our public school, and I think that’s a pretty big deal.”
The stand-up comedian then pointed out, “Problem is, there’s kind of a stink on it because you know who is president right now. So the left half of the country fears he’ll make the anniversary about him. Of course he will! … The question is whether we all will help him do it.”
Maher continued, “We shouldn’t. This is about America. He isn’t America; he’s the temporary caretaker of America, America’s employee. And the message should be that America isn’t actually his and that no one’s side gets to own being psyched about the country. So, I’m not down with this attitude of, ‘Well, we’re having a party, but if Trump’s going, I’m not.’”
After pointing out that attitude is “so high school, it should be in the Epstein files,” Maher issued a call to action. “Go to the party,” he implored. “It’s a big celebration, you probably won’t run into him. This country is 3.8 million square miles — and that’s without Greenland.”
He continued: “Look, I’m not saying Trump doesn’t want to muddy the distinction between himself and the country. He is sure as s*** does. That’s what wannabe authoritarians do. They try to blur that line. Don’t be an accomplice.”
Maher then reminded viewers, “For all of Trump’s nonsense, America is still here. Still incredibly proud, prosperous by world standards, still the place people want to get to. Still free enough to let me put the word ‘nonsense’ next to the president’s name. You do know it’s not that way everywhere.
Although Maher conceded that Trump wants to “act like a king in many ways,” he also pointed out that his power has been checked many times by other branches of the government.
“America may right now be the country Donald Trump is president of, but America is also everything that keeps Trump from being the king he wishes he were,” Maher declared. “So, this Fourth of July, let’s celebrate the genius American idea of checks and balances — which, yes, is threatened and yes, is taking on water — but is still afloat.”
Real Time With Bill Maher, Fridays at 10/9c, HBO
This story originally appeared on TV Insider
