Bill Maher, the HBO host and comedian, has openly criticized America’s elite universities, labeling them as ‘indoctrination factories’ and supporting President Donald Trump’s plan to reform higher education. During an episode of ‘Real Time’ on Friday, Maher used a strong metaphor, claiming that academia needs a ‘hot poker up the a–‘ to address what he sees as a long period of out-of-control governance. He criticized the universities for stifling intellectual diversity and for embracing views that he considers anti-American. This comes at a time when Trump has been actively targeting top universities, accusing them of fostering antisemitism, pushing DEI policies, and neglecting diverse thought on campuses.
The situation has been further complicated by a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents on college campuses since the Hamas attack on October 7. Additionally, recent studies indicate a decline in intellectual diversity, with liberal perspectives significantly outweighing conservative ones. Trump has taken a firm stance, taking actions like withholding federal research funds, and has been pushing for reforms that he believes will restore academic integrity and fairness.
In response to a viewer question, Maher admitted that he did not believe withholding scientific research funds was the right approach, but he still maintained that universities have been deviating from American values significantly. He pointed to the behavior of some professors, who he claims are isolated in their ‘ivory towers’ and have become disconnected from basic moral standards. Maher raised the issue of professors expressing support for the Hamas attack, suggesting that the recent actions of some academics reflected a deep-rooted problem within the academic community.
Meanwhile, the universities have faced criticism for not allowing conservative speakers on campus, which Maher has criticized as a violation of free speech. He emphasized the ‘rotten’ state of American higher education, arguing that universities are not permitting a free exchange of ideas and that the dominance of one viewpoint is problematic. The discussions about university reform have been further highlighted by events such as the case of Cornell University Professor Russell J. Rickford, who initially expressed support for the Hamas attack but later issued an apology.