Bill Maher rips celebrities considering running for office as malignant narcissists

HBO’s Bill Maher condemned celebrities attempting to run for political office during his Friday night show, labeling actors and reality show stars such as Caitlyn Jenner, Matthew McConaughey and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as “malignant” narcissists.

“Someone must explain why celebrities running for office is a recurring nightmare we cannot seem to shake. The Rock, Caitlyn Jenner, Matthew McConaughey, Randy Quaid. They all have suggested lately that when it comes to running the country, they have what it takes. And they do: malignant narcissism,” Maher said on his show, “Real Time with Bill Maher,” on Friday. 

Johnson earlier this year hinted at a potential run for president. Jenner has announced her challenge to California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). Quaid also has mulled a run for California governor. McConaughey has suggested he is thinking about running for governor of Texas.

Someone must explain why celebrities running for high office is a recurring nightmare we can’t seem to shake. Did we all not just witness the cautionary tale named Donald Trump? The last 4 years was a warning, not an inspiration. pic.twitter.com/6WYi2MaLey

— Bill Maher (@billmaher) May 29, 2021

Maher went on to explain that the former President Trump’s four years in office should have served as a “cautionary tale” that warned celebrities to leave positions such as president and governor to more qualified individuals.

“The last four years was a warning, not an inspiration,” Maher said. “You were supposed to see that and think, ‘I guess high-level government jobs should go to people who have trained for it and know what they’re doing.'” 

Maher also gave a breakdown of all of the reasons he believes Jenner, McConaughey, Johnson and Quaid are not up for the responsibility of holding political office.

“I’m sure Caitlyn Jenner is a nice person, but as California governor, she would be in charge of the nation’s fifth-largest economy based on her qualifications of being a background character in a reality show not about her,” he said, referring to the hit reality television show “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.”

“Governing is a difficult, nuanced job with people’s livelihoods at stake,” he continued. “Perhaps you’ve noticed that things in America are a little different these last five months. That’s because there are people in charge who spent their formative years not on a sound stage but studying the stuff you need to know to be effective on the world stage.”

Maher closed out by driving home his opinion that celebrities do not have the skills and qualifications to serve in government.

“Let me put it bluntly to you and all of these show biz candidates,” he said. “You’re not good enough, you’re not smart enough, and, dog on it, it completely doesn’t matter that people like you. They like you now because you’re an entertainer and thus largely uncontroversial. Governing is the opposite. If you think you can unite the country, you’re delusional.”