Bill Maher claims Biden’s ‘garbage’ comment is bigger gaffe than Hillary Clinton’s ‘deplorables’ remark

WASHINGTON, DC: 'Real Time with Bill Maher' host and comedian Bill Maher criticized President Joe Biden's recent "garbage" comment regarding supporters of former president Donald Trump, suggesting it could be more damaging to Biden’s campaign than it appears.

Maher, noting Joe Biden’s history with verbal missteps, argued this latest comment might resonate with voters in ways that could impact the election.

Bill Maher sees Joe Biden's comment as Hillary Clinton's 'deplorables' amplified

Bill Maher, on the Friday, November 1 episode of 'Real Time with Bill Maher' used his panel discussion to unpack the potential repercussions of Joe Biden’s remarks, questioning how they might reinforce existing criticisms that Donald Trump's supporters hold against the Democratic Party.

"I think it’s a bigger gaffe than people think,” Maher said, addressing his panel.

Reflecting on Biden’s career of gaffes, Maher continued, “It’s so funny, Joe Biden, his whole career, he was like Mr Gaffe, and then here at the very end — he’s like Aaron Judge [in Game five of the World Series]," he said as New York Post noted. 

"He just f***n’ muffed the fly ball and at the end of the thing, and blew the whole [game]," Maher added. 

He added that the comment "epitomizes everything that the Trump people hate about the Democrats. They look down at us. It’s like ‘deplorables’ times ten,” remarked Maher, referring to Hillary Clinton's pejorative 'basket of deplorables' comment on Trump supporters.

Michael Moynihan, co-host of 'The Fifth Column' podcast, echoed Maher’s concerns, stating that Biden’s words reflect the belief that “the elite” disdain Trump supporters, per Fox News.

Dismissing the media’s debate over the apostrophe, Moynihan remarked, “It was clear what Biden was talking about," and insisted the comment was “not a net-positive for Democrats.”

Bill Maher calls Tony Hinchcliffe 'insult comic'

Bill Maher also questioned if Democrats appear weak by being overly sensitive, pointing to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s "garbage" comments at a Trump rally where he called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.”

"Did the Democrats look weak because they can’t take a joke?” Maher asked, referencing Hinchcliffe’s sharp commentary.

“This was offensive. But this guy’s an insult comic. Why he’s at this [event] — it’s like bringing co***ne to a funeral," said Maher, defending free speech and humor in his profession.

During his monologue earlier in the show, Maher took another jab at Biden’s inability to stay quiet, joking, “In fairness, he was on a video call, and he thought he was just yelling at the TV.”

Joe Biden's 'garage' gaffe controversy

Joe Biden’s "garbage" comment came during an October 29 video call with Latino activists, where he criticized remarks made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on October 27.

Hinchcliffe had stirred controversy by referring to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”

Biden’s statement shot back at Trump saying, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters — his — his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.”

The comments stirred up controversy with, Biden being accused of calling all Trump supporters garbage.

He later clarified his stance on X (formerly Twitter) on October 30, writing, “Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage—which is the only word I can think of to describe it. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable."

"That’s all I meant to say. The comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation," he posted.

The White House press office reportedly changed “supporters” to “supporter’s,” a move they argued indicated Biden was criticizing Hinchcliffe rather than all of  Trump's supporters.

The White House later clarified Biden’s comment, noting that a change from “supporters” to “supporter’s” was intended to show he was criticizing Hinchcliffe, not Trump supporters at large.