The left was shocked to hear this.
Liberal comedian and longtime HBO host Bill Maher surprised political observers this weekend after suggesting he could support Vice President JD Vance in the 2028 presidential election if Democrats continue moving further toward the party’s progressive wing.
The remarks are drawing widespread attention because Maher has spent decades criticizing Republicans, yet he now says the Democratic Party is becoming increasingly dominated by socialist ideas and activists he believes are pushing voters away.
Speaking during an interview on ABC News’ This Week, Maher acknowledged that with President Donald Trump constitutionally barred from seeking another term, his vote in 2028 is no longer locked in.
When asked directly whether he could support Vice President JD Vance for president, Maher gave a surprising answer.
“If this is the Democratic side, yes,” Maher responded.
Maher explained that his concerns center on what he sees as the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and other far-left activists inside today’s Democratic Party.
He rejected arguments that socialism should be viewed as fundamentally different from communism, saying he has reviewed the DSA’s own platform and believes many Americans are ignoring just how far left some proposals have become.
According to Maher, voters should judge the movement by its published policies rather than political talking points.
The veteran comedian also criticized Democratic leaders for refusing to engage with audiences outside their political base.
Maher noted that Republican lawmakers and conservative figures frequently accept invitations to appear on his HBO program, Real Time with Bill Maher, while many Democrats decline despite receiving his support in previous elections.
He argued that Democrats have become increasingly reluctant to defend their ideas in open debate.
“The Democrats don’t come… Democrats are cowardly,” Maher said.
Maher also warned that moderate voices inside the Democratic Party are steadily losing influence as progressive activists gain more control over the party’s agenda.
Reflecting on his own political journey, Maher said he lost supporters years ago because he refused to embrace every position promoted by the activist left.
While emphasizing that his overall views of Republicans have not dramatically changed, Maher said he also refuses to ignore what he considers extreme ideas coming from within his own political coalition.
One issue he specifically highlighted was the growing support among some activists for anti-Israel demonstrations and rhetoric.
“When we’re cheering for the Intifada, I’m out,” Maher said.
Looking ahead, Maher predicted Democrats could still perform well during the 2026 midterm elections because many races will remain focused on President Trump and his administration.
However, he believes the political environment could look very different by the time Americans choose the next president in 2028.
According to Maher, the progressive wing of the Democratic Party continues to gain momentum, giving activists greater influence over future candidates and policy priorities.
He pointed to candidates in states like Colorado and Wisconsin who have supported eliminating police departments and prisons rather than simply reducing police funding.
Maher questioned how such policies could realistically work in practice and warned that proposals like those risk pushing independent and moderate voters away from Democrats.
The Democratic Socialists of America’s 2026 platform includes proposals calling for greater public ownership of major corporations and key industries, abolishing police and prisons, and eliminating the U.S. Senate.
Maher’s comments are likely to intensify debate over the Democratic Party’s future while providing Republicans with another example of a prominent liberal publicly criticizing the party’s leftward shift.
With the 2028 presidential race already beginning to take shape, Maher’s willingness to leave the door open to supporting JD Vance underscores the growing divisions inside the Democratic coalition.
