Bill Maher says Trump promotes socialism more than Democrats, citing administration’s Intel-linked stake

Comedian Bill Maher used an HBO segment on “Real Time” to argue that President Donald Trump’s policies and political indicating have moved farther left than Democrats, saying the administration’s approach amounts to “socialism” while Republicans have portrayed “democratic socialism” as a threat. Maher’s comments were aired on Friday, according to The Hill.

Maher’s central contention was that Republicans, he said, accuse Democratic socialists of being communists while overlooking what he described as socialist elements in the Trump administration. He framed the dispute as a contradiction in how political labels are applied, particularly when it comes to what he characterized as socialist language tied to the administration.

In making his argument, Maher cited the administration’s connection to an Intel stake, an element he referenced as part of why he believed Trump is embracing socialism more openly than Democrats. The Hill reported that Maher pointed to what he described as the administration’s position and used the example to argue that the usual partisan rhetorical boundaries are not holding.

Maher also said it was “interesting” that Republicans, in his telling, have been willing to attack democratic socialism in Democratic circles while not treating Trump’s actions or messaging with the same skepticism. He characterized the disagreement as less about ideology and more about the partisan use of the “communist” label, according to The Hill’s account of his remarks.

The comments took place in a broader environment where “democratic socialism” has been a recurring term in U.S. political disputes, often used by opponents to criticize proposals associated with expanded government roles in the economy. Maher’s segment did not cite a specific legislative roll call or agency decision in The Hill’s summary, focusing instead on the rhetorical and symbolic framing he said Republicans and Democrats apply differently.

Maher’s remarks also illustrate how public figures continue to test the boundaries of policy debate through high-profile media commentary. By grounding his argument in the administration’s Intel-related stake, Maher tied his critique to a concrete reference point, while still presenting it as a matter of interpretation rather than a formal legal assessment.

No official action by the Trump administration was described in The Hill’s report as a direct response to the comedian’s remarks. The episode effectively adds to an ongoing partisan argument about who is moving the country toward expanded government involvement, and which politicians apply the labels of “socialism” and “communism” in different contexts.