Bill Maher Admits Mistake on Trump Tariffs as US Economy Thrives

Liberal comedian Bill Maher has made a surprising U-turn, admitting he was mistaken about President Donald Trump’s tariff policies during a recent episode of his podcast, Club Random. In a candid conversation with progressive YouTube host Brian Tyler Cohen, Maher confessed that he, like many others, predicted a dire economic fallout from Trump’s tariffs by mid-year. Yet, reality has painted a different picture.

"I’ve got to own it," Maher stated, reflecting on his earlier skepticism. "I thought these tariffs would sink the economy by now, but they haven’t. The stock market is hitting record highs, and when I look around, I don’t see a country in depression. I see people living their lives."

Maher’s admission comes after months of criticizing Trump’s trade strategies, including a jab earlier this year where he called the approach to China "completely backwards" and even hinted at hoping for a recession to force a policy reversal. However, with the economy showing resilience, Maher emphasized the importance of dealing with facts over personal bias against Trump. "Hating on someone doesn’t get us anywhere," he noted. "Let’s start with reality."

Trump has imposed significant tariffs on numerous countries since taking office, aiming to correct what he describes as unfair trade imbalances exploiting the U.S. economy. While Maher previously questioned the logic of reviving manufacturing—dismissing it as outdated and better left to robots—he now seems to grapple with the unexpected stability in the economic landscape. Adding to the evolving trade narrative, Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently struck a deal, setting a 15-percent tariff on most EU goods imported to the U.S., averting a potential trade war.

This shift in Maher’s perspective highlights a broader lesson: predictions, especially in the volatile arena of politics and economics, are a risky game. As Cohen quipped during their chat, if he were any good at forecasting, "Hillary Clinton would’ve been president in 2016." For now, Maher’s mea culpa serves as a reminder that even the sharpest critics must occasionally eat their words when the numbers—and the streets—tell a different story.