Bill Maher Says He Won’t ‘Pre-Hate’ Trump Administration: ‘Let’s See What the Disruptors Can Do’

HBO’s Real Time host Bill Maher offered a nuanced take on the incoming Trump administration, vowing not to “pre-hate” despite his disdain for President-elect Donald Trump.

During a panel discussion on Friday night, Maher acknowledged the country’s need for disruption, even if the disruptors may differ from those he would have chosen.

“The country does need disrupting. The country needs a colonic and a slap in the face so bad,” Maher remarked. While he questioned Trump’s approach to the disruption, he noted that America faces significant challenges, including a bloated bureaucracy, a $36 trillion debt, and a maze of regulations hindering personal freedom and growth.

“It’s not like there aren’t thousands of regulations that do stop people from living lives that they could live better,” Maher added, emphasising that while he doesn’t hold optimistic views, he’s choosing not to dismiss the incoming administration out of hand. “I’m not gonna pre-hate anything,” he said.

Maher then admitted that Trump knew how to resolve the Ukraine war. via REUTERS

Maher also expressed uncertainty about the impact of the so-called “disruptors” once powerful industries such as the corn lobby, pharmaceuticals, and defence contractors begin resisting policy changes. “Let’s see what happens,” he said, acknowledging that the administration will face formidable pushback.

Later in the discussion, Maher conceded that Trump’s earlier comments on the Russia-Ukraine war might have had some merit. He reflected on the Biden administration’s decision to allow Ukraine to launch U.S.-made missiles into Russia, a move that has escalated fears of further provocation from the Kremlin. “It just looks like everybody’s coming on board to the idea that I hate to admit it, Trump said at the beginning, it’s gonna be a negotiated settlement,” Maher said, acknowledging that the war was taking a toll on Ukraine, which he called “noble” but facing a losing battle.

Bill Maher vows he won’t ‘pre-hate’ incoming Trump administration: ‘Let’s see what the disruptors can do’ | M10news

Drawing a comparison to a recent high-profile boxing match between 27-year-old influencer Jake Paul and 58-year-old boxing legend Mike Tyson, Maher noted the apparent mismatch, suggesting that while everyone watched the fight in anticipation, deep down, they knew the outcome was inevitable.

“I remember when I was leaving here a week ago, and everyone was talking about it. ‘Oh, what’s gonna happen?’ And then you saw the fight, and you realise—we knew in the rational part of our brain from the beginning that a 58-year-old man over the hill in the 90s was not going to beat this [27]-year-old behemoth,” Maher quipped.

Maher also shared his open-mindedness regarding Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s potential leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services, acknowledging that the current health system is deeply flawed. “The system as it is, the way we do health, is already very f—ed,” Maher stated. “So maybe he’ll make it worse. But, like, my head is not exploding about it.”

In his remarks, Maher struck a tone of cautious realism. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but refused to embrace full-blown opposition before the administration took office.