During a lengthy conversation on his show, Bill Maher directly confronted actor David Cross, asserting that perspectives like his contributed to Kamala Harris’s electoral defeat.
The exchange began when Cross casually mentioned his nine-year-old daughter has “trans friends,” including one child only three years old who is transitioning. Maher immediately questioned the prevalence of such situations at that young age.
“Wait, she has trans friends in third grade?” Maher asked, visibly surprised. Cross confirmed this, specifying the transitions were from girl to boy and vice versa. The conversation quickly turned to a debate about the nature of these decisions and who was truly driving them.
Maher pointed out a sentiment he’d heard from others: that contemporary attitudes would have labeled past behaviors differently. He referenced a woman who felt her childhood “tomboyishness” would now be categorized as something else entirely.
Cross initially insisted no one was *doing* anything to these children, but Maher pressed him, arguing that eight and nine-year-olds are incapable of making such life-altering choices independently. He challenged Cross on the influence of adults around them.
The discussion evolved to focus on the actions of parents, specifically buying boys’ clothing for girls and seemingly affirming a child’s declared gender identity. Maher relentlessly questioned whether simply “agreeing” with an eight-year-old constituted responsible guidance.
Maher’s core argument centered on the disconnect between this worldview and mainstream American sentiment. He stated bluntly that this type of conversation is precisely why many voters rejected Harris, perceiving it as out of touch with reality.
“Good luck with President Vance,” Maher declared, referencing the Ohio Senate race. He reiterated his frequent point to those with similar viewpoints: “We voted for the same person. You’re just why she lost.”
He predicted that the average American would find it difficult to accept the idea of young children independently navigating gender identity, and that this perception would drive voters towards opposing candidates. Maher framed the situation as a critical misstep for the Democratic party.
Maher concluded by suggesting that this dynamic – exemplified by Cross’s perspective and his life in a liberal enclave – perfectly encapsulates the current political climate and explains the appeal of candidates like JD Vance to a broader electorate.
