Bill Maher on Friday warned the Republican Party about their diminishing chances in the upcoming midterm elections, citing the “really ugly” images coming out of Minnesota amid the chaotic and ongoing presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement there.
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 on Friday was speaking to guest Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), agreeing that ICE has made their “point” that there are “too many illegals” in the U.S., citing former President Joe Biden and his border policies for an influx of undocumented workers.
“But these images,” said Maher. “Like I said, really ugly.”
He commented on some of the photos shown on screen, decrying ICE for forcing a man outside in subfreezing temperatures in his underwear, detaining a 5-year-old boy outside his home and dragging a pregnant woman en route to the doctor out of her car.
“John, I’m just going to say it to you,” said Maher. “You know I’m not trying to pick a fight right away, but my prediction is — this stuff? Your party is going to get the dogshit kicked out of you in the midterms … Because this is not what people voted for.”
He continued, “And they’re going to hold the party responsible, as they should.”
Maher isn’t the first to predict a midterm disaster for the Republicans. Political pundits and consultants on both sides of the aisle have voiced similar thoughts — including Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro, Democratic strategist James Carville and GOP consultant Karl Rove.
Maher’s prediction was specifically centered on the ICE presence in Minnesota, however, which resulted in what he called the “execution” of 37-year-old Renee Good 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 concede that folks who are in our country illegally are not above the law, either.”
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Kennedy confirmed that he supports current U.S. immigration laws, but added that it “matters” how said laws are enforced — and declared this has to be done “in accordance with due process, equal protection and Terry v. Ohio, reasonable suspicion.”
“It’s OK to protest,” said Kennedy. “It’s not OK to protest violently.”
Maher then noted 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 violently protesting is “stupid” — and that “somebody’s gonna get hurt.”
Maher countered that he hasn’t heard of anyone defending violent protests, however.
He went on to ask his other guest, CNN host Kasie Hunt, if she’s heard any different. Hunt responded plainly, “No,” before arguing that President Donald Trump is already “seeing that Americans are not behind these tactics” ICE has employed against Minnesotans.
Following Saturday’s fatal shooting in Minneapolis, Trump posted remarks laying blame on local police on his Truth Social platform — before pivoting to a winding rant about large-scale welfare fraud in Minnesota.
