Prominent liberal television host Bill Maher has publicly indicated a potential willingness to support Vice President JD Vance in the 2028 presidential election, citing deep reservations about the ideological direction of the Democratic Party. Maher, known for hosting HBO's "Real Time," made the admission during an interview with ABC News anchor Jon Karl, a month after Vance appeared as a guest on Maher's program.
"I’m not living in communist America … I’ve read the quotes from the DSA platform, from their own mouths. Don’t tell me I’m not seeing what I am seeing." — Bill Maher, Host of HBO's "Real Time"
Maher's comments underscore a growing internal debate within the Democratic Party regarding its future and the influence of its progressive wing. When asked directly by Karl if Vance could earn his support, Maher responded with an unequivocal "Yes," adding, "If this is the Democratic side, yes." He elaborated on his stance by pointing to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), an organization he believes has gained substantial sway within his party. Maher emphasized that his concerns are based on the DSA's own stated platforms and quotes, not external interpretations.
"I’m not living in communist America … I’ve read the quotes from the DSA platform, from their own mouths. Don’t tell me I’m not seeing what I am seeing," Maher stated during the interview. He specifically referenced a trend he has observed, where a growing number of DSA-backed candidates advocate for radical changes, including the complete elimination of police forces, prisons, and the existing justice system. Maher questioned the practicality of such proposals, framing his departure from this segment of the party as a matter of fundamental realism. "What world do they think we could possibly live in under these conditions? That’s just a level of nutty that I’m so glad, whatever it was I was like, I’m not going along, ’cause this is where it ends," he said.
The remarks build on Maher's prior statements indicating his vote would be "in play" in the next presidential cycle, signaling a potential shift from his long-standing identity as a fixture of the political left. For decades, Maher has utilized his platform to critique Republican politics and policies. His openness to a Republican Vice President, particularly one from President Trump's administration, marks a notable moment in political commentary.
Vice President Vance's appearance on "Real Time" on June 26 covered a range of topics, including the 2020 election and President Donald Trump’s continued influence within the Republican Party. During their on-air discussion, Maher directly challenged Vance regarding elements within the GOP that have not acknowledged the legitimacy of President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. "But it is a problem if you have an entire political party, an entire political movement that doesn’t recognize the legitimacy of elections, of course, and my big issue from the beginning," Maher told Vance at the time. Despite this confrontation, Maher described the overall tone of their exchange as cordial, noting that they connected personally despite significant policy disagreements. "Everybody’s a monster until you talk to them," Maher reflected. "You can disagree with them a lot, but we had a good time."
Maher's willingness to name a sitting Republican Vice President as a potential 2028 choice is particularly striking given his consistent public persona as a liberal commentator. Meanwhile, the DSA has indeed expanded its presence in Democratic primaries in recent election cycles, with affiliated candidates securing victories in various local and national races across several states. Maher's comments suggest that this expansion and its associated policy proposals are now influencing how some establishment-aligned Democrats perceive their party's future.
The ABC News interview did not delve into whether other Republican figures might also appeal to Maher under similar circumstances, with his stated openness specifically confined to Vice President Vance in the context of a Democratic ticket heavily influenced by the DSA. As of this report, Vice President Vance has not issued any public statement in response to Maher's most recent comments. Vance's June appearance on Maher's program garnered considerable attention at the time, being a rare instance of a senior Republican official engaging in an extended discussion on a prominent liberal-leaning entertainment program. Maher's initial "in play" comment, made before the Karl interview, had already drawn scrutiny for hinting at a potential weakening of his allegiance to the Democratic Party. These latest remarks arrive as the Democratic Party navigates ongoing internal debates over its ideological trajectory ahead of the 2028 election, with figures from both its moderate and progressive factions increasingly vocalizing their positions.
