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SocialDemocrat61

(7,567 posts)
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 08:30 AM 16 hrs ago

Maher shrugs off Trump's Pearl Harbor joke: 'You'd laugh' if a comedian said it

Maher shrugs off Trump’s Pearl Harbor joke: ‘You’d laugh’ if a comedian said it
by Steff Danielle Thomas

Comedian Bill Maher on Friday brushed off President Trump’s ribbing of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Pearl Harbor amid the ongoing U.S. military operation in Iran.

“He was in the Oval Office yesterday with the prime minister of Japan … and he was talking about our strike in Iran,” Maher said on his “Real Time” show. “And he said, ‘We didn’t tell anybody because we wanted it to be a surprise. Who knows better about a surprise attack than Japan?’

“I mean, is it? Is it right to say that? No. But if Shane Gillis said it, you’d laugh,” he added, referring to the stand-up comedian.

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5794573-maher-trump-japan-pearl-harbor-iran-war-gold-coin/
19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Maher shrugs off Trump's Pearl Harbor joke: 'You'd laugh' if a comedian said it (Original Post) SocialDemocrat61 16 hrs ago OP
He is the President Henry203 16 hrs ago #1
Fetterman writing Maher's gags now? Ponietz 16 hrs ago #2
Fuck Bill Maher Prairie Gates 16 hrs ago #3
It's funny how he's not demanding everyone who turned everything Bill Clinton did into a -gate scandal apologize ck4829 16 hrs ago #4
Don't worry, he'll come around Red Mountain 15 hrs ago #6
Yes, I'd laugh, with unease, and it would morph into a groan because bucolic_frolic 15 hrs ago #5
I *wouldn't* laugh if a comedian said it, but the real point is that the President of the US said it Ocelot II 15 hrs ago #7
Zelensky understands elected leadership role, Trump does not delisen 15 hrs ago #8
Not sure one could call that "reality show" entertainment, since krasnov niyad 15 hrs ago #10
First of all, bill, you fucking scum, the orange creature does NOT "joke", niyad 15 hrs ago #9
I've seen DU forgive a lot of Maher's bullshit for exactly that reason Orrex 14 hrs ago #11
Bill Maher fans are like a variation on the vegan joke Prairie Gates 13 hrs ago #15
Double rec'd it. marble falls 10 hrs ago #17
Damn! SocialDemocrat61 9 hrs ago #19
Forgive me dweller 14 hrs ago #12
I see his point. Midnight Writer 14 hrs ago #13
Who cares about anything this idiot says? LetMyPeopleVote 13 hrs ago #14
Maher's sooo out of touch. Not a gram of couth in his whole body. He's just Dennis Miller lite. marble falls 10 hrs ago #16
I'd say Shane... lame54 10 hrs ago #18

ck4829

(37,645 posts)
4. It's funny how he's not demanding everyone who turned everything Bill Clinton did into a -gate scandal apologize
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 08:41 AM
16 hrs ago

It's funny how's he not demanding the media figures who turned Howard Dean making a yell into a thing apologize.

If the standards have fallen to make room for Trump, we have to point them out. Consequences are going to happen, one way or another.

bucolic_frolic

(54,998 posts)
5. Yes, I'd laugh, with unease, and it would morph into a groan because
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 08:52 AM
15 hrs ago

it sure isn't any kind of knee-slapping joke. It's like so what, not really funny.

Ocelot II

(130,393 posts)
7. I *wouldn't* laugh if a comedian said it, but the real point is that the President of the US said it
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 08:53 AM
15 hrs ago

to the Prime Minister of Japan. He intentionally recalled and made a joke of an act of war by a country that was once an enemy and is now an ally, to the leader of that country. It was insulting, and certainly intentionally so, because Trump's MO is always the putdown. And the fact that Japan's PM is a woman made it that much more enjoyable for him. If Bill Maher can't figure out the difference between a dumb joke by a standup comic and an intentional dig by a president who loves to put others down whenever possible, he's either stupid or an asshole, and probably both.

delisen

(7,348 posts)
8. Zelensky understands elected leadership role, Trump does not
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 09:04 AM
15 hrs ago

They were both entertainers. One is worth following, the other is not

niyad

(132,110 posts)
10. Not sure one could call that "reality show" entertainment, since krasnov
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 09:39 AM
15 hrs ago

was simply being his revolting self, but you are quite correct about President Zelensky.

niyad

(132,110 posts)
9. First of all, bill, you fucking scum, the orange creature does NOT "joke",
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 09:34 AM
15 hrs ago

or "rib". He spouts vicious, vulgar, crude, rude, insulting, racist, sexist, verbal diarrhea, and the equally repellant people around him stroke his incredibly large, incredibly fragile, ego.

Second, it was NOT funny, I don't care who would have said it. Do us all a favour, you revolting orange suck-up, and retire.

Orrex

(67,061 posts)
11. I've seen DU forgive a lot of Maher's bullshit for exactly that reason
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 09:52 AM
14 hrs ago

His fans--and I've never understood how he has any--praise him for his insight and for "telling it like it is" when he says something that they favor. Then, the other 99% of the time when he spews bullshit defending the Right, they say "well what do you expect? He's a comedian, not a politician."

IMO he should be considered a reichwing propaganda source on par with Fox of Newsmax.

Prairie Gates

(8,094 posts)
15. Bill Maher fans are like a variation on the vegan joke
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 11:37 AM
13 hrs ago

Last edited Sun Mar 22, 2026, 04:38 PM - Edit history (1)

How do you know if a Bill Maher fan is very open minded and extremely intelligent?

Don't worry. They'll tell you.

dweller

(28,337 posts)
12. Forgive me
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 10:02 AM
14 hrs ago

But I’m not taking lessons in good taste from an asshole like bill maher


✌🏻

Midnight Writer

(25,355 posts)
13. I see his point.
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 10:05 AM
14 hrs ago

I would laugh if a virulent and nasty strain of measles infected the top Administration actors.

But if that same strain of measles infected a public school, I would not think it is funny.

LetMyPeopleVote

(179,305 posts)
14. Who cares about anything this idiot says?
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 11:29 AM
13 hrs ago

Maher ceased being funny a long time ago. I really do not care about anything this idiot says

marble falls

(71,835 posts)
16. Maher's sooo out of touch. Not a gram of couth in his whole body. He's just Dennis Miller lite.
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 01:59 PM
10 hrs ago
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