“Real Time” host Bill Maher took a sharp swipe at former First Lady Michelle Obama, expressing his “shock” at her recent insistence that America is not ready for a woman president. Maher dismissed her reasoning during a panel discussion on Friday, calling her claim “logical fallacy 101.”
Obama ignited a media firestorm earlier this month following then-Vice President Kamala Harris’ defeat in the 2024 election against President Donald Trump. She flatly declared, “we ain’t ready” for a female president. “That’s why I’m like, don’t even look at me about running, because you all are lying,” Obama stated. “You’re not ready for a woman. You’re not.”
She elaborated on her stance, arguing, “we’ve got a lot of growing up to do, and there’s still, sadly, a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman, and we saw it.”
The HBO liberal host, however, took strong exception to the former First Lady’s sweeping conclusion. “Just because we ‘weren’t ready’ or didn’t like the candidates — Hillary and Kamala — that doesn’t mean we’re not ready for a woman, maybe,” Maher countered.
He went on to criticize what he termed her “bad attitude.” “I mean, we said we’re ready for a Black president and someone — I can’t remember who. Maybe she remembers,” he quipped, referencing Barack Obama. Maher concluded, “So maybe it just has to be the right one.”
Former DNC chair Donna Brazil echoed Maher’s sentiments. She pointed to the tens of millions of people who cast votes for both Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris. Brazile also cited polling data showing that a significant majority—80% of Americans—say they would support a female president. Brazile minced no words, stating, “So the idea that America isn’t ready is bulls—.”