Bill Maher wasted no time diving into the biggest story of the week on the latest episode of HBO‘s Real Time, calling it “the first real, true big scandal of the Trump administration.”
Opening the show, Maher took aim at the controversy, which involved the nation’s top security officials accidentally adding the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine to a Signal group chat where they discussed plans for an airstrike in Yemen.
Maher began his monologue, joking, “The entire national security team was on a group chat.” He went on to explain that the Houthis in Yemen had been attacking shipping lanes, suggesting that bombing might be necessary. He listed key officials like the secretary of defense, vice president, head of the CIA, and the Department of Homeland Security all participating in the chat. Maher mocked the security of Signal, pointing out, “It’s safer than a normal [messaging service], but I have it. It’s not like it’s super secure.”
He continued by poking fun at the fact that the defense team accidentally included a reporter in the chat, supposedly from someone’s contact list. “So today, every teenager in America is saying, ‘And you’re worried about our screen time?’” he quipped.
Maher further ridiculed the national security team for their casual handling of highly sensitive information over text. “Again, this is our defense team, the national security people, the adults, and they’re all using emojis,” he said. “You know, flames and biceps and fist bumps. What were they gonna do if the mission failed? Poop emoji, facepalm [emoji].”
In his signature style, Maher also mocked the idea of leadership under President Trump. “Yes, thank God we got rid of Sleepy Joe [Biden] and the adults are back in charge,” he joked. “Mr. Vice President, you’re gonna want to see this. It’s a picture of my dick.”
When President Trump later downplayed the leaked information, claiming it “was nothing classified” and “weren’t war plans, they were attack plans,” Maher’s response was a sharp “Bitch, please.” He went on to say, “Come on, man. Nobody has been fired over this, and every D-lister in Hollywood is like, ‘Where was this mercy when I was on The Apprentice?’”
A few days after the scandal broke, The Atlantic published the leaked messages, revealing the attack plans against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The episode featured guests California Governor Gavin Newsom, linguist John McWhorter, and political commentator Rikki Schlott.
Maher also took aim at Republicans during his “New Rules” segment, addressing those who question why, if he criticizes “the woke nonsense peddlers,” he doesn’t fully align with the right wing. “Why don’t you go all the way and join them?” he asked, setting the stage for his sharp commentary.
You can watch Maher’s “New Rule” segment from Friday’s Real Time with Bill Maher above and stream the full episode on Max.
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