‘Lost your edge’: Bill Maher slammed for saying Biden should own his age amid cognitive decline debate

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: 'Real Time' host Bill Maher concluded his March 1 show by encouraging President Joe Biden to fully embrace his age and "let his old fart flag fly".

Maher began his monologue addressing the issue of Biden's age, stating, "If Democrats want to win the next presidential election, they need to find a way to make the Biden age issue work for them. Because you know what's really getting old about Joe Biden? Complaining about his age."

Bill Maher advises Biden to embrace age, authentically be himself in State of the Union

Instead of trying to refute criticisms of being "too old to be president," Maher suggested that Biden should lean into them.

"Stop with the 'I'm sharper than ever'. Nobody's buying that. Don't try to deny the age thing, lean into it. Lean in, lean in like you're eating soup," Maher humorously quipped.

"And just admit it! Say ‘Yes, I’m bad with names and I walk like a toddler with a full diaper, but I believe in democracy"', he further added. 

The HBO host observed that Democratic candidates often adopt a defensive posture regarding their true identities, referencing instances such as John Kerry's duck hunting and Hillary Clinton carrying hot sauce in her purse during their presidential campaigns, asserting that "Americans hate that Sh*t."

"Be yourself! And Joe, yourself is old", Maher advised Biden, before suggesting he "take a page" from his "old pal" John McCain, who openly embraced his age during the 2008 presidential election.

"No one cares if you can ride a bike and trying to do stuff like that is only setting yourself up for failure," Maher said while showing a photo of Biden when he fell off his bike.

"You recently joined TikTok to win over the kids, get off that s--- right now! It's inauthentic and it won't work! You're not following the demographics. In 2020, a record number of eligible voters under 24 came out – as gay! But came out to vote?" he asked

Answering his own question, he said, "Not so much. Less than half. But almost 72% of people over 65 voted. Those are your people, Joe. That ‘Matlock’ crowd. Reach out to them… Take all your ads of Twitter and put them on CBS. Tell America I feel your joint pain."

"When the president delivers the State of the Union, I say he should let his old fart flag fly," Maher added.

Maher proceeded to illustrate how Biden's State of the Union address "should" appear, envisioning him using a walker and unapologetically making gaffe after gaffe.

Bill Maher draws parallels between Biden and Ruth Bader Ginsburg

While Maher has staunchly defended Biden against his "ageist" critics, he has also repeatedly referred to him as "Ruth Bader Biden," drawing comparisons to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Ginsburg notably chose not to retire under President Obama, ultimately allowing President Trump to nominate her successor after her death in 2020.

Most recently, Maher invoked the Ginsburg comparison in light of the release of Special Counsel Robert Hur's report, which brought attention to Biden's mental acuity.

"I said he was going to be the Ruth Bader Ginsburg of presidential politics… He stayed too long at the fair," Maher remarked last month.

He also added back then, "Bubbling up this week… he won't do the Super Bowl interview, which is not a hard one, mixing up all the world leaders and then this report that came out."

Biden's age and mental acuity remain significant issues for him as he approaches the presidential election. The majority of Americans, including Democrats, believe he is too old to seek a second term.

In light of Maher's recent comments, netizens took to social media, opposing his views, writing, "History will not be kind to you". 

Another said, "I wonder if your audience didn't get told to "applause" or "laugh".... would they? You lost your edge man.... you sound like that old liberal you used to make fun at".

"What is old is you having republicans on your show who are racists bigots!" said another. 

"Joe talks about how old he is all the time! And, 4 times you couldn’t say that we are better off today than in 2018?? C’mon Bill, do better!", voiced another. 

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.