Of all people, Democrat Bill Maher believes President Trump’s aggressive image may be playing a role in America’s ongoing decline in crime.
On Friday’s “Real Time,” Maher argued that while falling crime has plenty of potential explanations, it would be foolish to completely dismiss the psychological effect of having a president who openly projects a law-and-order persona, according to the NY Post.
“It’s just childish to pretend that when you elect a “f— around and find out” president, a ‘no more Mr. Nice Guy-booting-your-ass-V-for-vendetta-kick-ass—and-take-names-say-hello-to-my-little-friend’ president, that’s not going to have some effect on crime,” Maher said to laughs from his studio audience.
He was quick to make clear that Trump wasn’t the only explanation. Crime was already moving lower before Trump returned to the White House, and Maher pointed to America’s increasingly pervasive surveillance as another possible factor.
“It’s not just drug crime that’s way down – it’s all crime. And again, probably much of it is not political. It’s because you can’t move two inches in America without being tracked, photographed, and followed by a flock camera,” he quipped.
The Post writes that Maher also argued that policies traditionally associated with Democrats deserve some credit, particularly programs aimed at reducing economic desperation.
“But it’s also because when Democrats expand the safety net, there are less desperate people – and because Trump is a badass. No, I don’t agree with many of his methods, like how they sometimes just deport people to countries where they have absolutely no connection – like Meghan and Harry,” he said. “Is doing it this way the right thing? No.”
During the segment, Maher referenced an Atlantic piece examining the country’s broader decline in violent crime. FBI figures cited in the discussion showed the trend beginning during the Biden years and continuing under Trump. Other explanations have included changes in policing, a strong labor market and federal support sent to state and local governments during the pandemic.
But Maher’s closing argument was that Trump’s cultivated image of toughness may be reinforcing the trend.
“He has UFC fights on the lawn. I think the bad guys got the message,” he said.
