US Comedian Bill Maher Supports Trump’s Attacks On Harvard University

Comedian and political commentator Bill Maher voiced rare alignment with former President Donald Trump during the most recent episode of HBO’s Real Time, supporting Trump’s push to hold Harvard University accountable for its response to antisemitism on campus.

“Trump has declared full-scale war on Harvard, and like so many things he does, there’s a kernel of a good idea there,” Maher said during Friday’s broadcast. “I’ve been criticizing Harvard long before he was.”

Maher, who graduated from Cornell University, another Ivy League school, rejected the idea that his critique was driven by academic competition. When guest Jake Tapper mentioned the Cornell-Harvard rivalry, Maher clarified that his stance was not rooted in personal bias.

“It’s because Harvard is, in many ways, an a–hole factory that produces smirking, arrogant elites,” Maher said.

Tapper, referencing Congressman Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a fellow guest and Harvard alumnus, quipped, “He has three degrees from Harvard… that makes him a f–k face times three.”

The remarks followed Trump’s efforts to withhold billions in federal funding from Harvard, citing the university’s alleged shortcomings in tackling rising antisemitism on campus. The former president has also advocated for revoking the school’s tax-exempt status and restricting the number of international students admitted, prioritizing spots for American students.

Maher, previously a sharp critic of Trump, recently dined with the former president at the White House alongside UFC president Dana White and musician Kid Rock. Reflecting on the encounter, Maher noted a contrast between Trump’s in-person demeanor and his public persona.

“The guy I met is not the same person who, the night before, posted nasty tweets about how terrible it was that I’d even consider having dinner with him,” Maher said.

Last Thursday, a federal judge halted a Trump administration attempt to cancel visas for international students at Harvard, adding further complexity to the ongoing dispute between the university and the former president.

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Nnamdi Okoli