President Donald Trump's efforts to throw the country an over-the-top 250th birthday party aren't exactly going as planned. Bill Maher spent part of his opening monologue on Real Time Friday night roasting the president's increasingly troubled Freedom 250 concert.
The concert was originally billed as a star-studded patriotic event, but in recent weeks it has become notable for something else entirely. There is a growing list of performers who want nothing to do with it, adding more bad news this week for President Trump.
Maher couldn't resist taking aim at both the lineup and the embarrassing series of withdrawals. "They announced the lineup: Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, Morris Day, Bret Michaels. I think this is very admirable about the president — it shows that he's concerned for the unemployed."
President Trump does have a habit of leaning on entertainers who are past their prime. And when these acts do go on stage for the president, they almost always end up being late-night TV fodder. Just think of how many times Kid Rock has been mentioned over the past 10 years by hosts like Maher, Jimmy Kimmel, and others.
Maher had even more fun with how the concert has imploded. After organizers unveiled the lineup, several performers publicly distanced themselves from the event, with some claiming they were unaware of President Trump's involvement when they initially agreed to participate.
"And then, after they announced this all-star lineup, a lot of them said, 'No, what are you talking about? We're not playing,'" Maher said. "That's got to hurt a lot when you can't close the deal with Milli Vanilli."
Maher's jokes add another chapter to what has become an increasingly complicated relationship between the comedian and the president. While Maher has occasionally sought common ground with Trump and even visited the White House for a meal, the Real Time host has never stopped criticizing the president when he sees an opportunity.
President Trump also never misses an opportunity to respond. He recently called Maher "pathetic." Mocking theTrump-backed patriotic celebration and especially highlighting the public embarrassment of the event is unlikely to improve Maher's standing with the White House.
It could also have implications beyond Trump vs. late-night hosts. Maher is scheduled to receive the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the Kennedy Center in June. The institution has found itself at the center of controversy since Trump took over leadership and added his name to the building.
While there is no indication Maher's award is in jeopardy, publicly ridiculing one of Trump's signature anniversary events is exactly the kind of commentary that could place the comedian further on the president's bad side. For now, Maher seems content to keep firing away.
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