Maher on political violence: ‘Let’s not debate about who’s worse because plainly both sides do it’

Comedian Bill Maher on Friday said both political parties need to tone down the political temperature after the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.

“The only way this starts to get better is if both sides admit, ‘Okay, let’s not have this debate about who started it. Let’s not debate about who’s worse because, plainly, both sides do it now,’” Maher said during a Friday episode of HBO’s “Real Time.” 

“And the right has done it too. A lot,” he added.

In the aftermath of Kirk’s death, many lawmakers voiced frustration at their colleagues, fearing some have contributed to rising political tensions that can serve as a jumping-off point for acts of violence.

Republican Reps. Nancy Mace S.C.), Clay Higgins (La.) and Anna Paulina Luna (Fla.) have each blamed their political opponents for Kirk’s death.

Their comments echoed President Trump’s, who condemned the “radical left” for the shooting on the Utah Valley University campus. 

“For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals,” Trump said in a Wednesday night video from the Oval. 

“This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today, and it must stop right now.”

However, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a conservative voice often at odds with his party, pointed to the president as among those who should seek to tamp down their rhetoric.

“I mean, there is a lot of rhetoric. And the president himself engages in it — he called it a hostile act to co-sponsor the Epstein resolution,” said Massie, who is a leading voice in pushing a motion to force the release of files related to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “I think that’s ridiculous rhetoric.” 

“It’s amusing,” he added. “It doesn’t offend me that he’s over the top with the rhetoric, but some people take it literally, and he should probably tone that down himself.”

Democrats have also condemned the unexpected act of violence.

“The attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible. In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) wrote online. Newsom had Kirk as a guest on one of his first podcast episodes.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris also spoke out against the incident.

“I am deeply disturbed by the shooting in Utah. Doug and I send our prayers to Charlie Kirk and his family,” she wrote in a post on X. 

“Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in America. I condemn this act, and we all must work together to ensure this does not lead to more violence.”

Although the motive of Kirk’s shooter remains unknown, lawmakers in both parties said they are worried an escalation of political violence could follow Kirk’s death. This has also prompted lawmakers to reconsider their public movements.