HBO talk-show host Bill Maher doubled down on his call for a “recession” to stop President Trump, arguing Friday on his show that an economic downturn would be “survivable,” while the effects of Trump’s presidency are not.
During the “new rules” segment on his HBO talk show “Real Time with Bill Maher,” the host implored critics who seized on his controversial earlier remarks to gain “perspective.”
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“And finally, new rule, anyone who went apeshit over the last two weeks because I said going through a recession would be worth it if it undermined Trump’s popularity has to enroll in college and take a course in perspective,” Maher told his audience.
“A recession is a survivable event. What Trump is doing to this country is not,” Maher continued, eliciting applause from his guests, including Center for American Progress President Neera Tanden.
“Democracy is about to go the way of the dinosaurs because we’ve been taken over by a dodo bird,” he added, to laughs. “So let me repeat: Recessions are survivable events. We survive one every time a Republican is in the White House. It’s true. Every Republican president since Teddy Roosevelt has presided over a recession.”
Maher’s remarks came after widespread backlash over his previous comments from conservatives and some fellow liberals, including CNN contributor Dean Obeidallah, who wrote, “Bill Maher is wrong to root for a recession – and it hurts progressives that a so called progressive like millionaire Bill Maher is rooting for Americans to suffer.”
Others pointed out Maher’s annual salary of $10 million, noting that he would likely be hurt less by a recession than most.
On his show last week, Maher speculated that only an economic downturn would turn Trump’s voters against him, adding that it would be a good thing if it were to occur.
“I feel like the bottom has to fall out at some point,” Maher said on the show.
“By the way, I’m hoping for it because one way you get rid of Trump is a crashing economy. So please, bring on the recession,” he added.