The HBO star said that while Trump looks ‘robust,’ Biden looks like ‘his own skeletal remains’
“Real Time” host Bill Maher ended his show on Friday night with an earnest plea to Joe Biden, urging him not to seek reelection. Maher expressed his concern that Biden’s decision to run again would have detrimental consequences for both the Democratic Party and the nation, as he predicted Biden would lose to former President Trump in the 2024 election.
Maher’s monologue echoed comments he had previously made on his “Club Random” podcast. In this podcast, he drew a parallel between Biden and the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who chose not to retire during the Obama presidency, ultimately leading to a conservative majority on the Supreme Court when she was replaced by Trump appointee Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
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Maher initiated his monologue by emphasizing the need to persuade President Biden that running for reelection would result in him returning the country to Trump and leaving a legacy as “Ruth Bader Biden.” He cautioned against the potential damage such a decision could inflict on the Democratic Party and the nation.
While Maher acknowledged that Biden is capable of performing the duties of the presidency, he asserted that running for office again would not be in his best interest. He highlighted the length and challenges of the campaign season, particularly in states like New Hampshire, which can become quite challenging during the election cycle.
After listing President Biden’s various accomplishments, Bill Maher addressed his viewers by stating, “There’s a term for Joe Biden, but not two.”
Maher continued by challenging the notion that Biden could defeat Trump in the 2024 election, emphasizing that circumstances change over time. He pointed out that 2024 is significantly different from 2020 in many crucial aspects, including Biden’s four additional years of age. Maher humorously remarked that even though someone can be a national treasure, they can still be too old for certain responsibilities. To illustrate his point, he used the analogy of a pilot on a plane, stating that if the pilot introduced himself as “Buzz Aldrin,” he’d opt to disembark.
While Maher had previously defended Biden against critics regarding his age, he argued that assessing age is a subjective, case-by-case matter. He cited Biden’s recent mispronunciation of LL Cool J’s name as evidence that it might be time for him to step aside.
Maher humorously contrasted Biden’s slip-up with Trump’s ability to remember names like Kanye’s, suggesting that the perception of age matters more than the actual age itself. He stressed that what counts is how voters perceive Biden’s age, and he expressed his belief that Biden would lose to Trump, who is nearly the same age but presents himself differently. Maher speculated that perhaps Trump’s eccentricity or perpetual anger makes him appear more vigorous, while Biden seems frail in comparison.
Bill Maher continued by contextualizing the issue of Joe Biden’s age, comparing it to a different era. He pointed out that if this were 1860 when Biden first ran for office, age, and appearance wouldn’t have been significant concerns. In that historical context, there was no need to look good, and the media didn’t exist in its present, all-encompassing form to scrutinize every minor mistake. Maher noted that in contrast, Biden’s debates in the upcoming election year will be broadcast to a wide audience, and he expressed doubts about Biden’s performance.
Maher challenged the notion that Biden is the sole candidate capable of defeating Trump in 2024, suggesting that he might be the only Democrat who could lose to him. He referenced James Carville’s perspective that any centrist Democrat around the ages of 50 or 60 would secure 55% of the vote, emphasizing that Biden gives pause to many, even within his own party. Maher also highlighted Andrew Sullivan’s argument that a new Democratic nominee would immediately change the political landscape, positioning the Democrat as the future, while Trump would appear as a tired, old retread clinging to the past.
In a direct plea to President Biden, Maher acknowledged his noble service to the country and his achievement of the presidency. However, he urged Biden to recognize that it’s time to pass the torch to someone else to continue the work.