Bill Maher says Trump embraces ‘socialism’ more than Democrats, cites Intel stake

WASHINGTON, DC: Comedian Bill Maher accused President Donald Trump of embracing policies that he described as “socialism,” arguing that the administration’s growing involvement in major private companies has moved beyond traditional Republican approaches to government and business. 

Maher pointed to the federal government’s stake in Intel and other arrangements involving major corporations as examples of what he said amounted to government intervention in the private sector. 

Bill Maher points to government involvement in companies

Maher accused the Republican administration of pursuing policies that the party has criticized progressive Democrats for advocating, particularly those calling for greater government involvement in the economy. 

“It’s so interesting, the wrinkle in this story, because now that they’re communists, there’s an opening for socialism. And you know who’s filling it? Donald Trump,” Maher said. The comedian specifically referenced Trump’s administration’s decision to acquire stakes in Intel. “How else do you explain a 9.9 stake in Intel by the government? Is that not socialism?”

He also referenced the administration’s agreement allowing Nvidia to sell chips to China in exchange for a 15% cut and the government’s “golden share” in Nippon Steel’s merger with US Steel. “We basically run their boardroom now,” Maher said. “And you know this is socialism, because Bernie Sanders agrees with it all. He wants to do it with the AI companies." 

The federal investment in Intel has drawn support from Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders, while Republican Senator Rand Paul has criticized the move as a “terrible idea” and a “step toward socialism.” 

“If socialism is government owning the means of production, wouldn’t the government owning part of Intel be step toward socialism?” Paul wrote in a post on X. 

Tara Palmeri calls government stakes ‘crony capitalism’

Guest Tara Palmeri, a journalist, also argued that the traditional free-market dynamics had been abandoned, stating that federal support had influenced market performance, directly benefiting administration figures.

“They have decided that the government wants to control 30 different companies. And Intel alone, which was a loser because of Nvidia, they have, they basically own 9.9% of that company,” Palmeri said. 

"After they invested in this company, he then went on to buy stocks in Nvidia, which shot up 200%. Okay, so he actually made a ton of money on this. His government created a floor on a stock. That he owns! It’s crony capitalism too!” she added. 

Maher’s remarks came after Trump likened democratic socialism to communism in June, as candidates affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have continued to win elections across the country.

“I think it’s the biggest threat to our nation there is, maybe since our founding,” Trump said. “That includes World War I, World War II, September 11, it includes the Pearl Harbor attack.”