
Bill Maher calls out liberals backing Hamas despite terror group's extremist views
Comedian Bill Maher trashed liberals in the United States who agree with the terror group Hamas on the topic of Israel.
During the latest episode of his 'Club Random' podcast – featuring podcast host Tim Pool as his guest –the comedian marveled at how liberals could support the Israel-hating, radical Islamic terrorists.
Advertisement
'Most Muslim societies live under some form of sharia law, which no westerner who thinks that Hamas is so great could ever live under,' Maher said.
The fact that some anti-Israel agitators on American college campuses have expressed support for the group that killed around 1,500 people in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, or have echoed its slogans calling for the destruction of Israel, perplexed the HBO 'Real Time' host.
He mentioned the irony of westerners endorsing the terror group and the 'Islamists' he alleged are supportive of Hamas' war against the Jewish nation.
'That's what's so ironic about liberals being so supportive of Hamas, is because you're liberals and these are the people – I'm sorry, but this ideology, Islam, even in its more benign forms – yes, I agree, the vast majority of Muslims – not terrorists, of course. But Islamists, which is the word we use to describe people who are not terrorists, but kind of agree with the things terrorists are doing, that's a much higher number.'
Advertisement
6
Club Random Podcast/YouTube
6 Pro-Palestinian protesters take over a Manhattan street during a protest outside the Summit NYC apartment on April 15, 2025.
Jimin Kim/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
'That's many millions of people,' he added.
Maher's statements come less than a week after two staffers at the Israeli Embassy in DC were murdered while exiting an event at the Capital Jewish Museum.
Advertisement
The suspect, 31-year-old Chicago resident Elias Rodriguez, yelled, 'Free, free Palestine,' as he was arrested by law enforcement.
6 A protester holds a pro-Palestinian sign during a rally in Brooklyn on May 15, 2025.
Getty Images
6 Free Palestine flags are waved during the Gay Pride parade on Jackson Heights, Queens on June 2, 2024.
Gregory P. Mango
Maher continued, noting that the 'fundamental rights' liberals have in America would not exist in Gaza or in other Islamic countries.
Advertisement
'You know, I mean all the protesters who are protesting in Gaza against Hamas? They've all been killed. They killed protesters, women – I mean, do I have to say anything more than just — if it was just that issue, how women are treated? Are you f—— kidding me?' he asked.
Maher admitted that one of his main points of disagreement with the 'far left' came from his views on Islam.
'One of the main reasons why the far left started to really hate me is because I call out Islam as what it is, extremely illiberal,' he told Pool.
6 A 'Jews for Free Palestine' sign is held up during an anti-Israel protest at Columbia University in May 2024.
LP Media
6 Masked Columbia University students hold up a Palestinian flag during a march at Columbia University on May 21, 2025.
AP
Maher ripped the Democratic Party earlier this month for not doing enough to squash the anti-Israel movement within its ranks.
'If the thought leaders in the Democratic Party keep encouraging and not rebuking that America is cringe and the people who run Gaza are great, the Democrats are doomed,' he said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Politico
27 minutes ago
- Politico
State implements reviews of Harvard visa applicants' social media accounts
The State Department has told U.S. consulates and embassies to immediately begin reviewing the social media accounts of Harvard's student visa applicants for antisemitism in what it called a pilot program that could be rolled out for colleges nationwide. The cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, obtained by POLITICO, was sent late Thursday. It says consular officers should 'conduct a complete screening of the online presence of any nonimmigrant visa applicant seeking to travel to Harvard University for any purpose.' The policy will take effect immediately, per the cable. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The document puts into motion a proposal the Trump administration floated earlier this week for expanded social media vetting of students applying to U.S. colleges, pausing new appointments for student visa applicants in the meantime. Increased social media vetting did already exist, but it was previously primarily intended for returning students who may have participated in protests against Israel's actions in Gaza. It also adds to the White House's battle with elite academic institutions over alleged mishandling of cases of antisemitism during campus protests in response to Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip against militant group Hamas. The cable specifically identifies antisemitism and antisemitic viewpoints as the focus for consular officers but does not spell out what specifically would rise to the level of inadmissible antisemitism in the eyes of State Department leadership. It says that the Harvard review process 'will also serve as a pilot for expanded screening and vetting of visa applicants' and that 'this pilot will be expanded over time,' indicating it will likely reach other universities in the Trump administration's crosshairs. Notably, State Department leadership wants consular officers to consider 'whether the lack of any online presence, or having social media accounts restricted to 'private' or with limited visibility, may be reflective of evasiveness and call into question the applicant's credibility.' The cable also instructs consular officers to inform applicants that private social media accounts could be viewed as evading vetting and request they make their accounts public while the Fraud Prevention Unit reviews their case. The new guidance comes as the U.S. government continues its showdown with Harvard for alleged failures to address antisemitism on campus amid the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. The federal government has stripped Harvard of billions in research funding and entered in dueling litigation with the Cambridge, Massachusetts, school. It had also suspended Harvard's ability to enroll international students by briefly blocking visa applications before that decision was blocked by a federal judge. It also comes as the administration has targeted other academic communities, including Chinese nationals studying at U.S. colleges and universities. Rubio said Wednesday the administration would 'aggressively revoke' visas of Chinese nationals studying in sensitive fields, the potential implementation of which has flummoxed State Department officials.


Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Live updates: Hamas reviewing a ceasefire proposal as Israeli strikes kill at least 14 in Gaza
Israeli airstrikes killed at least 14 people in the Gaza Strip, hospital officials said Friday, while Hamas was reviewing a new Israeli-approved ceasefire proposal after giving it an initial cool response. President Donald Trump's Mideast envoy had expressed optimism this week about brokering an agreement that could halt the Israel-Hamas war, allow more aid into Gaza, and return more of the 58 hostages still held by Hamas, around a third of whom are alive.

Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Six Things To Know About Trump's Gaza Deal
U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to announce a new ceasefire agreement that would potentially pave the way for a prolonged halt to the fighting in Gaza. Israel said it agreed to the new U.S.-brokered proposal, pushed by Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Hamas said it is "responsibly" reviewing it. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday that discussions are continuing in hopes of reaching a ceasefire that would "bring hostages home." Here are six key points of the new proposal, of which a copy was reviewed by Newsweek: The ceasefire is set for 60 days, with President Trump guaranteeing Israel's commitment throughout the period and pledging to work to ensure that negotiations continue in good faith until a final agreement is reached. Witkoff would travel to the region to finalize the agreement and lead negotiations. Ten living Israeli hostages and eighteen deceased from the list of 58 will be returned in two phases: half (5 alive and 9 deceased) on the first day of the agreement, and the remaining half (5 alive and 9 deceased) on the seventh day. On the 10th day, Hamas will deliver full details on all remaining hostages, including proof of life, medical status reports, or confirmation of death. Mediators will lead negotiations for releasing all remaining Israeli hostages for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners. These talks will begin on the first day of the ceasefire. The United Nations and the Red Crescent, along with other agreed channels, will distribute aid to Gaza immediately after Hamas approves the ceasefire. All Israeli offensive operations in Gaza will halt at the start of the agreement. Air activity will pause for 10 hours daily, extending to 12 hours on hostage exchange days. Israeli forces will redeploy in two phases: day one in northern Gaza and the Netzarim corridor, day seven in southern Gaza—following agreed humanitarian terms and maps. In exchange for 10 living Israeli hostages, Israel will release 125 prisoners with life sentences and 1,111 of those detained in Gaza after October 7, 2023. For 18 deceased hostages, Israel will return 180 bodies of those killed from Gaza. Releases will occur in two phases—half on Day One and half on Day Seven—without public ceremonies. On Day 10, Israel will share information on Palestinian prisoners held since October 7 and Gaza martyrs in Israeli custody. Negotiations to secure a lasting ceasefire will begin on Day One under the sponsorship of mediators—the United States, Egypt, and Qatar—covering the above-mentioned terms, security arrangements in Gaza, and plans for the post-ceasefire period. While the proposal requires negotiations to conclude within 60 days with all remaining hostages released upon agreement, the temporary ceasefire can be extended by mutual consent if no deal is reached. Related Articles Republican Says US Should End All Military Aid to IsraelElon Musk Snagged Slew of Global Business Deals After Joining Trump AdminThe Sanctuary Cities, Counties and States the Trump Admin Just Put on NoticeGretchen Whitmer Reacts to Trump Considering Pardons for Kidnap Plotters 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.