Bill Maher Challenges the Left’s “Self-Hatred” of America: “Immigrants Still See This Country as Hope”

Los Angeles, CA — Comedian and political commentator Bill Maher is again at the center of a national debate after delivering a fiery monologue on Real Time with Bill Maher criticizing what he called the “growing anti-Americanism” within the progressive left. The veteran HBO host argued that too many liberals have lost perspective about the nation’s progress, replacing gratitude with guilt and pride with apology.

Maher’s segment, titled “The Red, White, and Ew,” quickly went viral online, drawing both applause and outrage. “Too many liberals give the impression that to them, America is just a big, red, white, and ew,” Maher said. “A country that started out bad will always be bad.” He pointed to Democratic Rep. Cori Bush’s Fourth of July tweet calling the United States “stolen land” where “Black people still aren’t free.” Maher pushed back, saying that while America’s history is deeply flawed, it is also one of the few nations that continually strives to correct itself. “We’ve changed a lot,” he said. “Progress isn’t perfect, but it’s undeniable.”

Maher’s message was not a blanket defense of the country’s mistakes but a plea for balance. He argued that the left’s constant focus on America’s sins has morphed into a political liability — one that alienates moderate voters and undermines patriotism. “If America is so irredeemably evil, why are immigrants still risking everything to come here?” he asked. “People sell their homes, spend their savings, and leave everything behind for a shot at the American dream. They’re not fleeing failure; they’re running toward freedom.”

The comedian contrasted the optimism of immigrants with what he described as the left’s culture of despair. Citing data that 72% of Black Americans under 30 express optimism about their future in America — higher than their white peers — Maher said that younger minority voters often have a clearer understanding of opportunity than progressive activists. “The truth is simple,” he said. “America, for all that’s wrong with it, is still the last best hope.”

Maher also mocked what he called “performative activism,” taking aim at the now-common “land acknowledgments” that precede public events. “If you’re really standing on stolen land, either give it back or shut up,” he said to laughter from the studio audience. Critics called the line insensitive, while supporters praised it as a long-overdue rejection of empty virtue signaling. “Looking morally superior without real sacrifice is the entire point,” Maher continued. “True activism has turned into performance art.”

His commentary didn’t stop there. Maher criticized Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for saying that “so many people in this country hate women,” suggesting that the congresswoman’s rhetoric exaggerates social divisions. “America remains one of the few nations that genuinely protects and values women’s rights and freedoms,” he said, noting that millions of women abroad can only dream of the educational and professional opportunities available in the United States. Maher argued that losing elections does not equal misogyny. “Elections aren’t gender-based popularity contests,” he said. “They’re about vision, leadership, and competence.”

He also responded to Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s recent comment that “capitalism is slavery by another name.” Maher disagreed sharply. “No, it’s not,” he said. “It’s the thing that has given more people more prosperity and hope than any other system — flawed though it surely is.” He reminded viewers that capitalism and democracy, despite imperfections, have consistently produced freedom and innovation. “Unlike socialism or communism, which some on the left romanticize, capitalism has lifted millions out of poverty,” Maher argued.

The monologue then pivoted to a defense of free markets and the immigrant work ethic. “Something like the free market is kind of synonymous with America,” Maher said. “And if you don’t like it, I don’t know how you can say you love this country.” He contrasted the relentless optimism of new arrivals with the self-loathing tone he hears from elite progressives. “You know who loves this country?” he asked. “Immigrants — people who aren’t constantly complaining about what happened 200 years ago.”

Maher’s remarks struck a chord with viewers who feel alienated by identity-driven politics. He argued that Democrats have spent too much energy on cultural battles — over abortion, gender, and pronouns — while ignoring issues that dominate daily life, such as inflation, the border crisis, and public safety. “Those issues matter,” he said, “but they shouldn’t overshadow the everyday struggles Americans face.” According to Maher, focusing exclusively on symbolic politics risks losing working-class voters who still believe in traditional values.

The comedian also criticized what he called “presentism” — the modern tendency to judge historical figures by today’s moral standards. Quoting a scholar who called out the practice, Maher said both liberals and conservatives distort history for ideological gain. “History books aren’t supposed to be fan fiction,” he said. “Liberals accuse conservatives of wanting to whitewash the past, and sometimes that’s true. But plenty of liberals want to abuse history to control the present.”

Maher argued that rejecting America’s founders, symbols, and traditions in pursuit of moral purity only fuels cynicism. “Hating the past that shaped the present doesn’t build a better future,” he said. “Real growth begins with gratitude, not resentment.” He concluded by urging Democrats to reclaim a message of unity and pride: “You can’t win voters by convincing them their own country is evil. People crave hope and unity, not shame. Patriotism isn’t a dirty word.”

Reactions to the segment were divided. Conservatives and centrists applauded Maher’s comments as a “return to sanity,” while progressive commentators accused him of downplaying systemic injustice. Journalist Kara Swisher wrote on X that Maher’s argument “misunderstands activism as hatred” and that “criticism of power is an expression of love for democracy.” Meanwhile, columnist Bari Weiss praised the monologue as “the speech the Democratic Party should be giving.”

In his closing remarks, Maher summed up his broader message: “For all the talk about fighting for the soul of America, nobody seems to like it very much. Before anyone can lead this country again, we have to be inspired to love it.”

Whether seen as truth-telling or provocation, Maher’s monologue underscored a deeper cultural divide — one not just between left and right, but between those who view America as fundamentally broken and those who still see it as a work in progress. As Maher put it, “America isn’t perfect, but it’s still the world’s greatest experiment in freedom. It’s time to stop apologizing for it — and start believing in it again.”