{"id":715759,"date":"2026-06-20T15:58:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T15:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/715759\/"},"modified":"2026-06-20T15:58:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T15:58:12","slug":"bill-maher-calls-out-july-4-boycotts-defends-trump-doesnt-own-patriotism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/715759\/","title":{"rendered":"Bill Maher Calls Out July 4 Boycotts, Defends Trump Doesn’t ‘Own’ Patriotism"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bill Maher urged viewers not to let President Donald Trump dampen their spirits ahead of the nation\u2019s 250th birthday, arguing that no political side \u201cowns being psyched about the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

The comedian made the point during his \u201cNew Rule\u201d segment for Friday\u2019s \u201cReal Time With Bill Maher,\u201d where he took umbrage with those boycotting July 4th due to Trump being president.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody has to start getting a little more excited for America\u2019s birthday,\u201d Maher said. \u201cCome on. Our big 250 is coming up. It\u2019s on July 4th for the kids in our public school. And I think that\u2019s a pretty big deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued: \u201cProblem is, there\u2019s kind of a stink on it because you know who is president right now. So the left half of the country fears he\u2019ll make the anniversary about him \u2013 of course he will.\u201d<\/p>\n

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As Maher went on, he noted that the real issue was whether or not U.S. citizens \u201cwill help him do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe shouldn\u2019t. This is about America. He isn\u2019t America. He\u2019s the temporary caretaker of America. America\u2019s employee,\u201d Maher said. \u201cAnd the message should be that America isn\u2019t actually his and that no one\u2019s side gets to own being psyched about the country. So, I\u2019m not down with this attitude of, \u2018Well, we\u2019re having a party, but if Trump\u2019s going, I\u2019m not.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Maher ribbed that this mindset was \u201cso high school\u201d it should \u201cbe in the Epstein files.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo to the party. It\u2019s a big celebration. You probably won\u2019t run into him,\u201d Maher quipped. \u201cThis country is 3.8 million square miles, and that\u2019s without Greenland.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued: \u201cLook, I\u2019m not saying Trump doesn\u2019t want to muddy the distinction between himself and the country. He is sure as s\u2013t does. That\u2019s what wannabe authoritarians do. They try to blur that line. Don\u2019t be an accomplice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet, Maher defended there was still plenty to celebrate, reminding viewers that Trump\u2019s desire to \u201cact like a king\u201d has been checked multiple times over the last 10 years.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cAmerica may right now be the country Donald Trump is president of, but America is also everything that keeps Trump from being the king he wishes he were,\u201d Maher noted. \u201cSo, this Fourth of July, let\u2019s celebrate the genius American idea of checks and balances, which yes, is threatened and yes, is taking on water, but is still afloat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watch Maher\u2019s full commentary above.<\/p>\n

New episodes of \u201cReal Time With Bill Maher\u201d air Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on HBO.<\/p>\n

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