Comedian Bill Maher took aim at President Trump on Friday, skewering his sinking poll numbers and the mounting controversy surrounding the upcoming America 250 birthday bash on the National Mall.
Trump's job approval rating has dropped to a record low of 34 percent, according to a YouGov/Economist poll released this week. The decline comes amid a deeply unpopular war with Iran that has strained the U.S. economy.
A separate survey shows the president losing ground with a key demographic: white adults without college degrees. When Trump began his second term, he held a +28 net approval rating among this group. By mid-May, that figure had fallen to -4.
“That was always his base. That's like Taco Bell losing stoners,” Maher joked during the opening monologue of his HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher.
“I mean, really, losing the non-college-educated white people? What does he have to do, stage UFC fights on the lawn? Oh, wait, we're doing that, I forgot. We actually are doing that. My bad,” the host added.
Construction crews have begun assembling a temporary octagon on the south lawn of the White House, where several Ultimate Fighting Championship bouts are scheduled for June 14—Trump's 80th birthday. The event is part of a broader slate of activities tied to the U.S. semiquincentennial, many of which have drawn scrutiny for their close association with the administration. For more on the blending of combat sports and politics, see UFC 250 at the White House.
The Great American State Fair, a centerpiece of the 250th anniversary celebrations, has seen a string of entertainers pull out after claiming they were misled about the event's political nature. The original lineup included Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, and Bret Michaels—a roster Maher mocked as evidence Trump is “concerned for the unemployed.” Both Milli Vanilli and Bret Michaels have since withdrawn.
“That's got to hurt a lot when you can't close the deal with Milli Vanilli,” Maher said.
However, Fab Morvan, one half of the pop duo, told the Associated Press on Thursday that he plans to perform despite the controversy. “I am here to entertain and unite people, not divide them,” Morvan said. “Let's celebrate life & music and take a trip down memory lane. I feel honored to be a part of as it will celebrate the 250 Year Anniversary of America with so many other accomplished artists.”
Other artists who have backed out include country singer Martina McBride, Young MC, Morris Day and the Time, and C+C Music Factory. McBride wrote on Instagram that she was “presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.” The backlash has fueled broader questions about the administration's handling of the semiquincentennial. For more on the branding controversy, see Trump's 250th Birthday Bash: Branding the Semiquincentennial Sparks Backlash.
The poll numbers and event turmoil come as the White House pushes forward with a packed schedule of celebrations, blending political messaging with entertainment. Whether the festivities can recover from the string of cancellations remains uncertain.
