Trump criticizes Bill Maher and Stephanie Ruhle after heated ‘Real Time’ discussion
-Reuters/HBO/X@SRuhle
Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform early Saturday morning, expressing frustration with several media figures, including HBO's 'Real Time' host Bill Maher, MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle, and columnist Bret Stephens.
His remarks came after the trio appeared on 'Real Time' on Friday night, where they discussed topics such as Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump’s influence on American democracy.
During the show, Bret Stephens raised questions about Vice President Harris's public engagement, noting her lack of clarity on policy positions. “I'm not sure I want to vote for Kamala," Stephens said. "It would be great for her to sit down with you, or George Stephanopoulos, or you, Stephanie."
Ruhle responded by defending Harris, stating, “Kamala Harris is not running for perfect, she is running against Trump... In 2024, we know exactly what Trump will do, who he is, and the kind of threat he is to democracy.”
Stephens continued, suggesting that voters are unsure of Harris's positions, stating, "The problem that a lot of people have with Kamala is that we don't know her answer to anything."
Bret Stephens asks Stephanie Ruhle why Kamala Harris has not done interviews and stated clearly what her policy positions are. Ruhle responds that 'We don't live in Nirvana':
Bret Stephens: "I'm an undecided voter. I'm not sure I want to vote for Kamala. My fear is that she… pic.twitter.com/y80j8kDIWh— Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) September 21, 2024
The discussion then shifted to how media portrayals of Trump affect public perception. Stephens cautioned that calling Trump a "threat to democracy" repeatedly might be counterproductive. “Every time the left calls Trump a threat to democracy, Americans remember guys like me saying it, and here we are,” he remarked.
Maher disagreed, calling Stephens' point a “dumb argument,” while Ruhle said, “And he was then,” referring to concerns about Trump’s previous actions.
Bret Stephens warns Bill Maher and Stephanie Ruhle that the media repeatedly calling Trump a 'Threat to Democracy' is not working:
Bill Maher: "He got shot again, and he says 'Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at.'
Bret Stephens: "We probably should tone it down. When we're… pic.twitter.com/65rooYjWf4— Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) September 21, 2024
Following the episode, Trump responded on Truth Social, criticizing the panel and referring to Maher as "ratings-challenged" and suffering from "TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME." He also directed insults at Ruhle, calling her a “dumb as a rock bimbo,” and described Stephens as a “Trump-hating loser” who seemed “totally confused.”
Earlier in the show, Maher had admonished his audience for laughing at a reference to an assassination attempt, saying, “It’s not funny!” However, Trump's strong reactions overshadowed much of the other dialogue from the panel.