Bill Maher Issues a Cautionary Warning: The Rise of Autocracy Under Trump
In a fiery monologue on September 26, 2025, the 69-year-old late-night host Bill Maher delivered a scathing critique of President Donald Trump’s administration, warning of a troubling trend toward authoritarianism. His segment, hosted on Real Time With Bill Maher, drew sharp contrasts between the current political climate and the satirical tone of his own comedy career.
Maher opened the episode by highlighting the recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, who was charged with obstruction of justice and false testimony related to his 2020 Senate Judiciary Committee testimony. "James Comey, our former FBI director, was indicted today by the Trump administration," he stated. "I didn’t even know he had a talk show." The quip was particularly pointed, as it followed ABC’s temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! after Kimmel made controversial remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death. The show returned on September 23, marking a six-day absence that led to record-breaking ratings.
Maher’s commentary took a darker turn when he compared Trump’s legal tactics to a classic Hollywood trope: "Trump is in his ‘we caught you with your tail light out’ phase of justice." He joked, "They will find something to pull you over for. But he’s been trying to get shifty." The reference to Comey’s charges, which stemmed from his 2020 testimony on Trump’s 2016 campaign, underscored the growing tension between the executive branch and the public eye.
Maher also turned his attention to Lindsey Halligan, one of Trump’s personal lawyers overseeing the indictment. "She is an insurance lawyer, 36 years old," he said, drawing a parallel to the courtroom drama of Boston Legal. "His personal lawyer never prosecuted anybody, and now she’s going after the former FBI director. If this was an episode of Boston Legal, you’d say this show had jumped the shark." The humor was further amplified by a punchline: "Did I mention she’s a former beauty pageant contestant? Oh yes, for the talent portion, she kissed a**." This line, while lighthearted, highlighted the absurdity of the situation and the irony of a legal battle involving a former beauty queen.
In a chilling conclusion, Maher warned of a shift toward prosecuting political enemies. "So if you are tracking the rise of autocracy, we’re past the muzzling dissident phase, and we’re into the prosecuting political enemy space. I think Trump could be in the general’s uniform by Christmas," he concluded. The segment ended with a call to action: "This isn’t just about law and order—it’s about the future of free speech and the balance of power."
Real Time With Bill Maher airs Fridays at 10/9c on HBO.
