Maher calls Democrat politicians ‘cowards,’ referencing take on the Sept. 11 attack that got his old show canceled
Comedian Bill Maher called Democratic politicians “cowards” while renewing a long-held view that the Sept. 11 hijackers were not cowards. He made the remarks on HBO’s Real Time on Friday and reiterated the line that previously contributed to ABC cancelling his earlier show more than two decades ago.
Why It Matters
Maher’s comments revive a past controversy that had real career consequences — ABC canceled his old program after he expressed a similar view — and his renewed criticism of Democratic politicians is likely to draw attention given that history. The episode ties current remarks to a longstanding, polarizing position on Sept. 11 that remains newsworthy because of its prior fallout.
Key Facts
- Person: Bill Maher
- What he said about Democrats: Called Democratic politicians "cowards"
- What he said about Sept. 11 hijackers: Reaffirmed that "the terrorists weren't cowards"
- Where: HBO show Real Time
- When: Friday (as reported)
Bill Maher used a segment on HBO’s Real Time on Friday to label Democratic politicians “cowards,” while again defending a contentious view he has expressed about the Sept. 11 hijackers. During the show he reiterated the line, saying that "the terrorists weren't cowards," a formulation he has used previously.
That stance is not new for Maher: it played a role in a past controversy that led ABC to cancel his earlier program more than two decades ago. The comedian has returned to the same formulation on his current HBO platform, prompting renewed attention to both his comments and the earlier fallout.
On Real Time, Maher coupled his critique of Democratic politicians with his continued refusal to describe the Sept. 11 attackers as cowards. The remarks link current political commentary with a long-running, divisive position that once affected his career.
The episode underscores how Maher’s views on Sept. 11 continue to surface in his public commentary and how they intersect with his critique of contemporary politicians. Given the prior consequence — the ABC cancellation — the repetition of the line is likely to rekindle debate around both his rhetoric and its impact.
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