Bill Maher predicts the Republican Party will get
Bill Maher on Friday warned the Republican Party about its dwindling chances in the upcoming midterm elections, citing the “really ugly” images emerging from Minnesota amid the chaotic and continued presence there of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The “Real Time” host shared his prediction the night before federal immigration agents in Minneapolis shot and killed a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, who has since been identified by his parents as Alex Pretti, a nurse who attended the University of Minnesota.
Maher spoke Friday with visiting Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), and agreed that ICE has made it clear that there are “too many illegals” in the United States, citing former President Joe Biden and his border policies as the cause of an influx of undocumented workers.
“But these images,” Maher said. “Like I said, really ugly.”
He commented on some of the photos shown on screen, calling out ICE for forcing a man to go outside in subzero temperatures in his underwear, detaining a 5-year-old boy outside his home, and dragging a pregnant woman out of her car on the way to the doctor.
“John, I’m just going to tell you,” Maher said. “You know I’m not trying to pick a fight right away, but my prediction is: These things? Your party is going to get beat up in the midterms… Because this is not what people voted for.”
He continued: “And they are going to hold the party responsible, as it should be.”
Maher is not the first to predict a midterm disaster for Republicans. Similar thoughts have been expressed by political experts and consultants from both parties, including Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro, Democratic strategist James Carville and Republican consultant Karl Rove.
However, Maher’s prediction focused specifically on the ICE presence in Minnesota, resulting in what he called the “execution” of Renee Good, 37, earlier this month.
“You don’t have to be Einstein’s cousin or a senior at Cal Tech to know that illegal immigration is illegal,” Kennedy responded. “Those of us who believe that no one is above the law have to admit that people who are in our country illegally are not above the law either.”
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Kennedy confirmed that he supports current US immigration laws, but added that “it matters” how those laws are applied, and stated that this must be done “in accordance with due process, equal protection, and Terry v. Ohio, reasonable suspicion.”
“It’s okay to protest,” Kennedy said. “It’s not okay to protest violently.”
Maher then pointed out that the 5-year-old boy who was detained earlier this week was doing no such thing. While his Republican guest said he understood, Kennedy reiterated that protesting violently is “stupid” and that “someone is going to get hurt.”
Maher responded that, however, he has not heard of anyone advocating for violent protests.
She went on to ask her other guest, CNN anchor Kasie Hunt, if she had heard anything different. Hunt responded clearly, “No,” before arguing that President Donald Trump is already “seeing that Americans are not behind these tactics” that ICE has employed against Minnesotans.
Following Saturday’s fatal shooting in Minneapolis, Trump posted comments blaming local police on his Truth Social platform, before segueing into a meandering rant about large-scale welfare fraud in Minnesota.