Bill Maher clashes with his own audience after criticizing Obama Center: 'What a bunch of liars'

WASHINGTON, DC: Political commentator Bill Maher found himself at odds with his own audience during the Friday, June 19, episode of 'Real Time with Bill Maher' after criticizing the cost and purpose of the Obama Presidential Center.

The exchange unfolded during a discussion with Democratic Rep Ro Khanna and Politico columnist Jonathan Martin, as Maher questioned whether the nearly $850 million project represented the best use of resources.

The conversation quickly shifted from the center itself to a debate over its public appeal and legacy.

Bill Maher slams $850M Obama Center

The most heated moment of the discussion came when Maher asked audience members whether they actually intended to visit the Obama Presidential Center.

After criticizing the project's reported $850 million cost and questioning the broader purpose of presidential libraries, Maher turned to the crowd and asked, "Are you, anybody here in this audience planning to go the Obama presidential library?"

The question was met with applause from a sizable portion of the audience, prompting an immediate response from the HBO host. "Really? What a bunch of liars you are! You're not going to the Obama library!" Maher said.

The exchange drew laughter from some audience members and briefly shifted the conversation away from the center itself.

Maher continued to express skepticism that many Americans would make a special trip to visit the facility, arguing that public enthusiasm for presidential libraries often exceeds actual attendance. 

Before the audience exchange, Maher had mocked the building's design and questioned whether the money spent on the project could have been directed elsewhere.

"It looks like something aliens built in Dubai," he said. "Why does anyone need a presidential library? These monuments to somebody's ego out of office."

Ro Khanna defends Obama Presidential Center

Rep Ro Khanna pushed back on Maher's criticism, arguing that the Obama Presidential Center serves a broader purpose than simply commemorating a former president.

"At a time that Elon Musk is talking about sending people to Mars, you're telling me that spending up to a billion dollars, one billion dollars on commemorating the first and only African American who's ever been president isn't worth it?" Khanna said.

Maher responded that he was not disputing Obama's significance but questioned whether a large physical structure was necessary to tell that story.

Khanna countered that the center would help preserve and communicate Obama's legacy to future generations. He pointed to former first lady Michelle Obama's speeches and the historical significance of Obama's election as examples of why the center could serve an educational purpose.  

"I don't think most presidents need libraries. I do think that Obama's story is unique," Khanna said. "He changed the direction of this nation for millions of people."

Khanna also reflected on his own experiences before entering politics, saying that Obama's rise to the presidency changed perceptions of what was possible for many Americans from minority backgrounds.