In recent weeks on “Real Time with Bill Maher,” presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Gavin Newsom, with his bitter comic grilling, has sued Fox News, compared the California governor’s legal troubles to Trump, and joked that late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s purported suicide note bore a striking resemblance to his friend Trump’s.
On Friday night’s HBO show, Maher focused his monologue on President Trump’s state visit to China and his meeting with the country’s leader Xi Jinping in Beijing (and was accompanied by Brett Ratner, the Hollywood director who faces numerous sexual misconduct allegations, appears in photos in Epstein’s file and directed the movie “Melania”). The administration said Trump and Xi “discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation between our two countries, including expanding market access for U.S. companies to China and increasing Chinese investment in our industries.”
But mostly, it was an old-fashioned love fest between two strongmen, with Trump in particular peppering Xi with one bizarre cliché after another.
“Trump hates China, but he loves Xi,” Maher said. “It is no exaggeration to say that this was a celebration of love between these two people. As he left, he deeply thanked President Xi for his hospitality. And President Xi thanked President Trump for further increasing China’s popularity around the world.”
After all, Trump loves pageantry, and Maher believes that’s why Trump has been so sweet and lovey-dovey with the leader of a country embroiled in a bitter trade war over the past year and a half, ever since President Xi rolled out the red carpet for Trump.
“Did you know? China knows what President Trump likes,” Maher offered. “What does he like? He likes pomp and parades, and he likes red carpets. And thousands of kids waving American flags. And Mr. Xi, he’s smart, right? He knows. He negotiated like a guy who knows he’s holding the cards now, ever since Trump backed out of the big trade war.”
And the punchline: “Actually, as a subtle bargain, they were serving orange chicken.”
Maher wasn’t finished yet.
“Trump says he can’t compete with Xi. Things are getting a little weird, you know?” Maher cracked. “At one point, Mr. Xi told the interpreter, ‘Tell President Trump, don’t get emotional.'”
