Bill Maher Slams Left's 'Exclusionary Attitude' Over Hamilton's Kennedy Center Snub

Bill Maher, host of "Real Time," didn't hold back when criticizing the left's "exclusionary attitude" regarding the Kennedy Center, particularly following President Trump's recent restructuring of the venue's board. Addressing the controversy during his YouTube "Overtime" segment, Maher tackled the decision by "Hamilton" producers Jeffrey Seller and Lin-Manuel Miranda to cancel their 2026 shows at the Kennedy Center in protest of Trump's changes.

Maher, ever the provocateur, hinted that the Kennedy Center was already politically charged before Trump's involvement. Referring to the annual Kennedy Center Honors, he remarked, "I watched it this past December—Francis Ford Coppola and the Grateful Dead were honored. But I didn’t see a single person in the audience or on stage who I’d think voted for Trump." He added, "If this is supposed to be America, why not invite someone like Ted Cruz? Everyone loves ‘The Godfather.’ Even Republicans can be fans of the Grateful Dead. But no, the mean girls said, 'It's our last hurrah, and this is what you get.'"

The producers of "Hamilton," who had previously performed at the Kennedy Center in 2018, released a joint statement declaring their refusal to participate under the new Trump-led direction. "The Kennedy Center was not created in this spirit," said Miranda and Seller. "We’re not going to be a part of it while it is the Trump Kennedy Center." Ric Grenell, President Trump's interim executive director for the venue, fired back at the producers, accusing them of playing politics and calling their withdrawal "a publicity stunt that will backfire."

Maher’s critique extended beyond the theater world. He pointed out how the left's exclusivity hurts its broader appeal, saying, "What really bugs me about the left is that exclusionary attitude. You just lost. You don’t have the juice to pull that off anymore." Alyssa Farah Griffin, co-host of "The View," chimed in, agreeing that the arts traditionally lean left but criticizing the overreaction to Trump's involvement as out of touch with middle America. Meanwhile, former Senator Jon Tester questioned Maher’s assertion, noting that in his experience, plenty of Republicans do attend Kennedy Center events.

Despite differing perspectives, Maher's central point stood out—a call for inclusivity in spaces meant to represent the arts and culture of the entire nation. Whether the left will take that critique to heart is another story entirely.