Bill Maher refuted the statements of those who were dissatisfied with the fact that the president Donald Trump turned journalists and officials in his own administration into unsuspecting puppets after secretly leaving the presidential plane, Air Force One, following threats from Iran.
In Friday's episode of the program Real Time Maher chuckled as he recounted reports of a plane change, citing Trump's "thwarted assassination plans again." Following the NATO summit in Turkey last month, Trump was reportedly moved from Air Force One to another presidential jet due to threats from Iran. Members of the press and officials, such as the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, remained on board Air Force One.
Maher dismissed the outrage of those who believe Trump left the press and officials in the dark about the threat.
«"If the Iranians were going to shoot down that plane, then goodbye to Marco Rubio and so many others... I'm not judging anyone. I'm sure that's exactly what the Secret Service ordered him to do. My question is, since I've heard it's up to the president to decide whether he can do it or not, do you think any other president would have done it differently?" Maher said.
He argued that former presidents from both sides of the political spectrum, such as Barack Obama , Jimmy Carter и Ronald Reagan, would also have followed the advice of the Secret Service and left the plane.
Sociologist Kristen Soltis Anderson noted that Trump has already faced credible threats to his life, including a shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024.
«"I don't blame him. So I think if you're Donald Trump, you have to do what the Secret Service tells you," she said.
«"Yes, I would agree," Maher agreed.
Former Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo supported Maher's position, saying: "I think they all would have done the same.".
He added: "I think they'll do what the Secret Service tells them to do. Yes, that's his decision, but it's rare that anyone goes against the advice of the Secret Service.".
In fact, President Bill Clinton pulled something similar in March 2000 during a trip to Pakistan, traveling separately from the presidential plane and the press — but his administration briefed at least one reporter in advance, Susan Page, then head of the White House Correspondents' Association, reported this week. The Washington Post newspaper .
Maher was less pleased with Trump's actions regarding the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is currently deployed to the Arabian Sea, and its deployment there has been extended beyond its original May schedule. The ship has been at sea for more than 250 days, with reports of supply problems, poor conditions, and mental health crises.
«"I've used this phrase before, but Republicans have a certain patriotic immunity. They can do things that are incredibly unpatriotic and don't seem to be held accountable for them in the same way Democrats are," Maher said.
The article "Bill Maher defends Trump for using press and officials as bait to AF1 hijack: 'I don't blame anyone'" first appeared on Mediaite.