Bill Maher opened his latest episode of Real Time with Bill Maher by condemning what he called a “very ugly week in America” following the assassination of far-right activist Charlie Kirk. Maher criticised those who mocked or justified the killing, saying, “I think you’re gross. I have no use for you.”
Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot in the neck at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University. He later died, and President Donald Trump announced his death on Truth Social, vowing to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The alleged shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was described by Maher as a “stay-at-home son.”
Maher also addressed the partisan divide, noting that both sides contribute to the problem. “The only way this starts to get better is if both sides admit, ‘OK, let’s not have this debate about who started it. Let’s not debate about who’s worse because, plainly, both sides do it now,’” he said.
The host referenced a chaotic scene in Congress where Representative Lauren Boebert called for a prayer after Kirk’s death, leading to a shouting match with Democrats over a school shooting in Colorado. Maher quipped, “So far, the civil war is not very civil.”
Political violence has been on the rise in the US, with Kirk’s death following other high-profile attacks. Maher urged both sides to reject violence and engage in dialogue, emphasising his own approach of talking to everyone.
