Bill Maher wants Kamala Harris to win as loss to Trump will 'make him look bad'

Bill Maher explained why it's important for Kamala Harris to win the November election while discussing Donald Trump's apparent immunity to scandals
Bill Maher expressed his hopes for Kamala Harris' victory during the latest episode of 'Real Time' (YouTube/HBO, Getty Images)
Bill Maher expressed his hopes for Kamala Harris' victory during the latest episode of 'Real Time' (YouTube/HBO, Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Bill Maher shared on the Friday, October 18 episode of 'Real Time' that he really hopes Kamala Harris wins the November election, and it isn't just because he supports her candidacy.

Rather, he reasoned that it was "because I predicted a month ago you’d win this thing, and if you blow it, it’s going to make me look bad."



 

Maher's remarks about Harris were a diversion from his main point of the 'New Rules' segment, that Democrats should not rely on an "October surprise" to derail Donald Trump’s campaign.

Bill Maher thinks voters have become desensitized to Donald Trump's behavior 

In the segment, Bill Maher shared, "Democrats need to stop thinking an ‘October surprise’ is going to save us from a second Trump term… We’ve gotten so used to thinking that there’s always an October surprise coming, that when it doesn’t happen, it actually seems weird like a party at Diddy’s house where you just dance."

He pointed out several historical examples of October surprises that failed to derail campaigns, including the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape, which he joked so disgusted then-FBI Director James Comey that "he reopened an investigation into Hillary."

Maher referenced the 1980 election and the Iranian hostage crisis, stating, "In 1980 the October surprise was that Iran was going to release the hostages they’ve been holding for over a year, giving President Carter a lift, but then they released them minutes after Reagan got inaugurated. Psych."

However, this reflects a misunderstanding of the term's origins, which was supposedly invented by Ronald Reagan's campaign to describe the hypothetical release of American hostages before the 1980 election, as per The Wrap. 

The term only became widespread after the election, owing to the unproved claim that people acting on behalf of Reagan covertly negotiated with Iran to delay any hostage release until after the election.

Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as he arrives for a campaign rally at the Mosack Group warehouse on September 25, 2024 in Mint Hill, North Carolina. Trump continues to campaign in battleground swing states ahead of the November 5 presidential election. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Despite The Washington Post leaking a video showing Donald Trump making obscene remarks about women a month before the election, he went on to become president in 2016 (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Shifting back to Trump, Maher expressed skepticism about the impact of any scandals on the campaign, saying, "Trump could drunk drive with a blood alcohol content of a million, doing 200 on a side street and kill a crosswalk of kindergartners and two ducks, and it wouldn’t move the needle at all."

The comedian noted that voters have become desensitized to the GOP nominee's behavior, quipping that it’s "the way you wouldn’t notice a new face tattoo on Post Malone."

Bill Maher begs Kamala Harris not to mess up his 'really good prediction record'

Bill Maher contrasted Donald Trump’s resilience to scandals with Kamala Harris' vulnerability, arguing that "this is Kamala’s great dilemma. Trump is invulnerable to an October surprise, but she is very vulnerable because she’s the one who is still undefined."

Citing moments from her Fox News interview with Bret Baier and her appearance on 'The View' that he personally thought weren't effective, Maher suggested it would have been better if Harris had expressed more personal opinions on issues related to the US-Mexico border.

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 08: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris addresses the National League of Cities
Bill Maher thinks Kamala Harris is in a vulnerable state as she is still undefined  (Getty Images)

He went on to say, "It’s so important that you win this election, not just for the sake of retaining a real democracy and for the good of the world, but also because I predicted a month ago you’d win this thing, and if you blow it, it’s going to make me look bad."

The comedian added a light-hearted plea, emphasizing the personal stakes he feels in her success: "I’ve got a really good prediction record, so please don’t f**k this up, Kamala."

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Political strategist James Carville said Democrats would achieve little even if they won Congress because Trump would veto their every move
2026-10-24T21:17:27.000Z
Donald Trump's first campaign pledged to "drain the swamp" by rooting out corruption and serving ordinary Americans over special interests
2026-10-24T20:36:15.000Z
A source said blanket pardons for all junior staff were unlikely, but Trump could pardon employees involved in deportation, war or trade policies
2026-10-24T19:05:29.000Z
Trump dismissed reports of plans to replace the White House press room with the old swimming pool but hinted at other plans for the press corps
2026-10-24T16:07:32.000Z
Neil Bush announced that he had voted early for Democrat James Talarico, citing concerns about Republican candidate Ken Paxton’s record
2026-10-24T08:29:29.000Z
An unclassified memo highlighted growing threats against Americans as the Trump administration reassesses security arrangements across the region
2026-10-24T08:05:02.000Z
Donald Trump’s political operation directed nearly $30 million toward House races as Republicans grew concerned about polling and costly defenses
2026-10-24T06:16:52.000Z
This follows reports that Trump discussed relocating journalists amid broader tensions between his administration and the White House press corps
2026-10-24T05:54:42.000Z
Donald Trump said repeated vetoes could force Democrats to negotiate with him as the November 3 elections threatened to reshape Congress
2026-10-24T05:38:01.000Z
Ilhan Omar accused Trump of 'laundering right-wing conspiracy theories through the most corrupt DOJ in American history'
2026-10-24T05:00:31.000Z