Comedian Bill Maher took a sharp jab at President Joe Biden, comparing his debate performance to the infamous incident involving Hollywood star Amber Heard. During his show “Real Time with Bill Maher,” Maher didn’t hold back, saying Biden “sh*t the bed” during the CNN debate with former President Donald Trump.
Biden’s struggle to articulate his policy agenda and respond to questions left many media pundits calling for him to step out of the race. Maher humorously noted that Trump lied throughout the debate but wouldn’t have been able to get away with it “if Joe Biden was there.”
“So you know Joe, he famously loves trains, but apparently not of thought! I mean, it’s just all night, confused and halting and trailing off,” Maher quipped. “I’ve seen beauty pageant contestants answer questions better.”
The late-night host then drew a controversial comparison to Amber Heard, referencing allegations from her divorce trial with Johnny Depp that she defecated in Depp’s bed. “I don’t want to say he sh*t the bed, but his new Secret Service name is Amber Heard! I mean, come on, this guy is bad. And it wasn’t just what came out of his mouth, you know? I mean, the look on his face the whole night. It just looked like somebody just thought he left the stove on, you know?”
Maher continued his critique, pointing out the irony that Republicans were initially worried Biden would exceed expectations. “The Republicans were so afraid that Joe was going to be beating expectations. Remember that all last week they were like, he’s going to be jacked up. They put out all this crap about he’s going to have a secret earpiece in. Really? Who was on the other end of it? Jimmy Carter?”
Maher has previously expressed concerns about Biden’s age and its impact on the 2024 race, suggesting it could lead to a loss against Trump. Following the debate, Biden faced immediate calls from donors and pundits to drop out of the race. The New York Times editorial board even urged him to quit, describing him as “the shadow of a great public servant.”
Despite the criticism, Biden has vowed to stay in the race, receiving public backing from former Presidents Obama and Clinton. First Lady Jill Biden is also reportedly committed to her husband seeking a second term.
Maher reiterated his stance that Biden should step down, referencing his earlier editorial titled “Ruth Bader Biden.” He argued that the rationale for Biden running has always been that he is the only one who can beat Trump. “Now I think it’s inverted. I think he’s the only guy who could lose to him,” Maher said.
During the show, Maher played a clip from the debate where Biden trailed off incoherently when asked about his record on the economy. Maher compared the blunder to a knockout from boxer Mike Tyson, saying it was the moment he knew “this election is over.”
Chris Matthews, one of Maher’s panelists, argued that a Biden victory is essential to protect U.S. democracy and that stepping down is “his decision.” Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who has expressed interest in being Trump’s running mate, suggested Biden will lose if he maintains his stance that climate change is “the only existential threat.”
“This is a guy who has the nuclear codes,” Gabbard said, “and yet is not present enough, and is actually insane and so far out of touch with reality, that he doesn’t recognize that the true existential threat … is the fact that we’re closer to nuclear holocaust now than … ever.”
Maher also expressed concern about Biden’s post-debate polling. A flash poll from CNN found that 67% of viewers thought Trump performed better than Biden. Of those same voters, 55% expected Trump to perform better before the debate began.
“That’s the number you always see … of the people who are just always with their party,” Maher said. “You see it on the right. They used to call them Birthers, Tea Party, MAGA nation, whatever, they never move.”
“And now I feel like that’s a third of the Democrats,” he continued. “They’re going to stick with this guy and they are going to regret it. He is going to lose.”
The second 2024 presidential debate is scheduled to air live on ABC at 9 p.m. on Sept. 10.
Source: Mediaite, New York Post, The Wrap
