DECIDER
Last night on HBO‘s Real Time with Bill Maher, the host applauded former president Donald Trump for his “brilliant” McDonald’s campaign stop.
During Friday’s “Overtime” online segment, Maher read an audience question asking the panel what they thought of Trump’s visit to the popular fast food restaurant.
“I think it’s brilliant,” CNN contributor Van Jones responded.
“Yes!” Maher agreed.
“I think when you have somebody who is a world-famous superstar, who’s a billionaire, etc, etc, and they do something you don’t expect, it’s brilliant media,” Jones continued. “And I think we got to acknowledge that this guy is beating the pants off of us with these so-called publicity stunts. It gets into everybody’s feeds. And people who are not looking at politics will look at that. I think we just have to have more fun ourselves.”
“We were having a great time during the Democratic Convention. If we have more fun, if the Democratic Party is a party of fun, people will join it. We should be doing crazy stuff, too,” Jones added.
“One more thing… Don’t immediately just go to ‘I hate him’ for that,” said Maher. “But everybody I know here in Hollywood does that. And it’s like, first of all, you look weak. You look weak. You look like you’re so easily gotten. You know you look like you overreact to anything.”
The HBO host then pointed out his belief that “personality” has a lot to do with politics.
“You’re personality first. I know people who are conservative politically because I know them. That’s just who they are. They’re squares,” Maher told his audience. “And there are people who just like- they think Trump is fun like that. I don’t get it, but I don’t get Taylor Swift!”
“I bet you would’ve bumped me for Taylor Swift too,” quipped Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis.
“Oh, in a New York minute!” Maher jokingly agreed.
Earlier in the discussion, the panel was asked if they think it’s a “mistake” for Kamala Harris not to appear on Joe Rogan‘s podcast since Trump did.
“Yeah, I think it is a mistake,” Maher answered. “It’s a mistake she didn’t do this show.”
“Did you invite her?” Polis asked.
“Of course!” Maher replied, adding “We would’ve rebooked you for her, I hate to say.”
Polis added that he hoped Harris would change her mind and appear on Rogan’s show while she’s in Texas, arguing that “the more people see of Kamala Harris, the more they like her” and that “she needs to get out there.”
Trump’s three-hour interview with Rogan was released on Friday night. While it was reported that there were discussions to have Harris appear on the podcast as well, a spokesperson for her campaign said she would not appear on the podcast due to “scheduling.”
