Talk show host Bill Maher shocked viewers by offering rare praise for Charlie Kirk after the Turning Point USA founder was assassinated during a Q&A event at Utah Valley University on September 10. The event marked the first stop of the group’s “American Comeback Tour,” which planned stops at multiple college campuses.
“Look, I might drink a little more than usual today,” Maher told guest Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, according to Fox News. “Because I don’t know when this is airing, but this is a sh*t day. A guy who sat there – Charlie Kirk – got shot today, and I can’t stop thinking about it.”
Maher, often a critic of Republicans, acknowledged Kirk’s dedication to open dialogue.
Willingness to debate is a trait Maher said is increasingly absent on the political left.
“They’re the people who don’t want to talk,” Maher said, lamenting the erosion of civil debate in American politics.
Maher praised Republicans for their willingness to participate in political conversations. “I like them all. They’re all nice people when you meet them in person. Nobody’s as crazy as they’re made out to be.”
Corgan added his own warning. “Violence has to be off the table,” the rock frontman said, echoing Maher’s call for civility.
Maher’s statement quickly drew national attention because it broke the mold of partisan rhetoric. While many progressives stayed silent or mocked Kirk’s death online, Maher condemned the violence and recognized Kirk’s impact on political discourse.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, leaders across the political spectrum denounced the assassination of Kirk, a 31-year-old husband and father of two.