Comedian and HBO host Bill Maher said he could see himself voting for Vice President JD Vance in the 2028 presidential election, calling his vote "in play" amid criticism of the Democratic Party's leftward shift.
When asked directly whether he could support Vance, Maher responded affirmatively, citing the current trajectory of the Democratic Party as the deciding factor.
The remarks follow Vance's appearance on Maher's program on June 26, where the two debated topics including the 2020 election and Trump's influence over the Republican Party.
During that interview, Maher challenged Vance on the GOP's reluctance to acknowledge Biden's 2020 victory, describing election legitimacy as one of his primary concerns with the party.
Despite their disagreements, Maher characterized the conversation as constructive and argued that Americans should engage more openly with political opponents.
"Everybody's a monster until you talk to them," Maher said, noting that he and Vance "had a good time" despite substantial differences.
Maher has long been a prominent liberal voice, known for criticizing Republicans and Trump while also breaking with Democrats over what he views as excesses on the left.
He pointed to progressive identity politics, anti-police activism, and rigid ideological tests as areas where he believes the left has overreached.
Maher accused Democratic lawmakers of cowardice for avoiding his show, claiming members of his own party lack the confidence to defend their positions publicly.
He said he lost supporters years ago by refusing to adopt what he considers the left's more extreme stances, while his views on the right remained largely unchanged.
Looking ahead, Maher predicted Democrats would perform well in the upcoming midterms by running against Trump's record but expressed alarm about the party's 2028 outlook.
He warned that a newly energized wing of the party is advancing radical proposals, citing rhetoric around abolishing police and prisons as evidence of a dangerous shift.
Maher also targeted the Democratic Socialists of America, arguing that elements of its platform resemble communism more than socialism.
"My vote is in play because I'm not living in communist America," Maher said, citing direct quotes from the organization's platform to support his claim.
