Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, took to his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday to unleash a tirade against Friday night’s episode of “Real Time with Bill Maher.” In a rant that showcased his trademark vitriol, Trump expressed his disdain for the show, calling it “increasingly boring.” His anger was primarily directed at MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle, whom he disparagingly referred to as a “‘dumb as a rock’ bimbo.”
The episode in question featured a spirited discussion between Ruhle, Maher, and conservative New York Times columnist Bret Stephens. The segment, now circulating widely on social media, shows Ruhle and Maher attempting to persuade Stephens to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Although Stephens stated he would not vote for Trump, he hesitated to endorse Harris, citing uncertainty about her political positions.
Ruhle pushed back, arguing that the threat Trump poses to democracy should be reason enough to support Harris. “She’s running against Trump,” Ruhle pointed out. “We have two choices. And so there are some things you might not know her answer to, and in 2024, unlike 2016 for a lot of the American people, we know exactly what Trump will do, who he is, and the kind of threat he is to democracy.”
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Maher, ever the comedian, lightened the mood with a quip that likened Stephens to “the dog we’re trying to get in the car to go to the vet,” eliciting laughter from the audience and encapsulating the frustration many Democrats feel with so-called “never Trumpers” who still refuse to back a viable alternative.
Real clarity here from @SRuhle
— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) September 21, 2024
Trump’s response was as predictable as it was ugly. While his sexist attack on Ruhle drew the most attention, he didn’t spare Maher or Stephens from his ire. He derided Maher as a “befuddled mess, sloppy and tired,” and dismissed Stephens as a “Trump-hating loser.” The former president’s use of such inflammatory language is nothing new. He has a long history of targeting women, often resorting to sexist slurs. This latest incident is reminiscent of his alleged 2016 attack on Megyn Kelly, whom he allegedly retweeted as a “bimbo” after she criticized his derogatory comments about women
Trump’s rant is part of a broader pattern of behavior that continues to undermine his claims to be a serious candidate focused on the issues. Rather than addressing the substantive points raised by Ruhle and Stephens—namely, the existential threat he poses to democratic norms and institutions—Trump chose to engage in petty name-calling. It’s a strategy that plays well with his base but leaves many voters, especially women and independents, questioning his temperament and suitability for office.
