Bill Maher Fact-Checks Kid Rock’s 9/11 Hijacker Comparison to Abdul El-Sayed on ‘Real Time’

On Friday’s episode of HBO’s “Real Time,” host Bill Maher pushed back when musician Kid Rock compared Michigan gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed to the 9/11 hijackers. The exchange came during a panel discussion that also included Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who was promoting his book on the Supreme Court. Maher opened the show by addressing President Donald Trump’s 1,300-word social media attack on him after their White House dinner earlier this month, joking that Trump was acting like Taylor Swift. The fact-check moment matters because it highlights how political rhetoric can blur the line between criticism and dangerous false equivalences, especially against Muslim-American candidates. El-Sayed, a former Detroit health director, is running in a crowded Democratic primary. Maher’s correction underscores the role of media figures in challenging inflammatory claims in real time. As midterm campaigns heat up, expect more clashes over identity and patriotism on cable news panels.