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Reactions to Trump’s big win and discussions on Real Time
Bill Maher wrapped up a week of pop culture reactions to Donald Trump’s comeback election with his signature wit on Friday’s edition of HBO’s “Real Time.” Maher confirmed with a smirk, “I did not vote for the winner,” while diving into various hot topics, including a revealing note about the West Hollywood pot shop he co-owns with actor Woody Harrelson.
Trump’s sweeping victory
Maher took a moment to marvel at Trump’s complete command over the swing states during the election night. “Trump won all the swings, all seven — he ran the table,” Maher stated. “Trump won so big today, he called the Secretary of State in Georgia and he asked him to lose him 11,000 votes,” he quipped, referencing the controversial 2020 election calls that led to charges against Trump. Maher highlighted the unique coalition of voters Trump managed to garner. “He kept the old crowd that likes him. He got a lot of new voters. He got a lot of people who say they just want to see what he’ll do. I call this the get-the-cat-high vote,” said Maher.
Reflecting on his own vote
Maher didn’t shy away from affirming his vote for Trump’s Democratic challenger, Vice President Kamala Harris. “The exit poll said he grabbed 52% of white women. He also got their votes,” Maher observed with a chuckle, pointing out Trump’s surprising strength among female voters.
Rising conservative sentiment
Maher touched on the notable rightward shift in the electorate, even within liberal Los Angeles. He discussed the California state ballot measure to make shoplifting a felony again, which passed easily. “Even liberal L.A. said, ‘Here’s an idea — instead of locking up the toothpaste, how about we lock up the shoplifters?’” Maher remarked, pointing to growing frustration with petty crimes in local stores.
Personal impact of rising crime
Maher shared a personal anecdote about retail crime impacting his life. The Woods, the West Hollywood pot shop he co-owns with Woody Harrelson, was burglarized just before the election. “They just broke in the window and walked in there, and the joke’s on them, you know? Why? Because they caught the guy. Because our pot is so good he forgot to leave,” Maher laughed, noting an arrest had already been made.
Michael Douglas’ touching recognition
Maher welcomed actor Michael Douglas as his first guest of the night. The son of the legendary Kirk Douglas, who passed away in 2020, shared a touching anecdote. “Toward the end of my father’s life, the only things he would watch was Ultimate Fighting [Championship] and you,” Douglas said, bringing smiles and laughter to the studio.
Lasting loyalty to the Democratic Party
Throughout this election, Maher has maintained his allegiance to the Democratic Party. Last week, he urged undecided voters to consider, “I’m not Trump” as still a very valid reason to vote for Harris. Reflecting on Trump’s comment from September about “the Jewish people” and their potential influence on his election loss, Maher was sharp. “Whenever the autocrat starts blaming the Jews, I think it’s a great sign because when has that ever turned out badly?” he stated on “Real Time.”
Trump’s rebuttal
Trump quickly retorted to Maher’s remarks on his social media platform, describing the HBO host as “a befuddled mess, sloppy and tired, and every conversation, with B and C list guests.” Despite the retort, Maher’s analysis continued to resonate with a large audience.
Reactions across late-night shows
Maher’s comments on the presidential election came alongside reactions from several other late-night talk shows. Hosts such as Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Taylor Tomlinson, and Seth Meyers have all expressed their disappointment with the election outcomes. John Oliver is expected to address the topic in the latest episode of “Last Week Tonight” on Sunday evening.
“It was a terrible night for everyone who voted against him,” Kimmel lamented in his opening monologue on Wednesday. “And guess what? It was a bad night for everyone who voted for him too. You just don’t realize it yet.”
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