Maher Blasts Media For Politically Correct Approach To Terrorism

Alex Christy
September 12th, 2026 10:02 AM

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HBO’s Bill Maher lambasted the media on Friday’s episode of Real Time for its increasingly politically correct approach to terrorism as he marked the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Additionally, Maher also called out what he labeled “the moral confusion” of the Democratic Party on the issue, especially as it relates to Gaza.

Contrasting 2001 with 2021, Maher declared, “Now, a lot of media outlets don’t even want you to say the T-word. On the 20th anniversary, four American journalism associations put out guidance that said that ‘Terrorism’ should only be used in quotes because it's 'emotionally and politically loaded.’ Yeah, so is the World Cup, but we don't put ‘Soccer’ in quotes?”

 

 

That led Maher to wonder, “Really? We can't anymore just say, out loud, who the bad guys were that morning? Those 19 hijackers? They shared something—oh, let's call it a worldview—and it wasn't astrology. But somehow, over time, we've decided not to harp on that. The whole business about ‘Who wanted us dead and why?’ Let's not put a name on it. When it comes to terrorist attacks—please, there are very fine people on both sides.”

Moving into 2026, Maher recalled how, “Canadian state TV told its reporters, ‘Do not refer to the September 11 attacks as terrorist attacks.’ No? Even though the very definition of terrorism is using violence against civilians to pursue ideological goals? What should we call it then? Unruly passengers? A wrong turn taken at the Chrysler Building?”

Traveling across the pond, Maher continued, “Why not just say the planes and the towers ‘got into a fight.’ I mean, after all, as the BBC advised its reporters, using the word ‘Terrorist’ can be a, quote, ‘Barrier rather than an aid to understanding.’ You know what's really a 'barrier to understanding’? Lying.”

After playing a clip from his first post 9/11 Politically Incorrect show on ABC where he claimed political correctness has to go, Maher started to turn towards liberals outside of the media:

That never even got off the ground. After 9/11, there was a big debate: Was this a clash of civilizations? It was, and it still is. Not between Muslims and Christians, no reasonable person was saying that—but radical Islamism versus Western liberalism? Yes. That's a real thing. Fighting people who hate freedom of religion and hate homosexuals and hate the idea of women as equal and free humans—how did liberals wind up on their side? And many did. One in five young Americans now has a positive view of Osama bin Laden. He's like Luigi Mangione in a turban.

Maher further lamented, “You hear it in a lot of places now: That the worst thing about 9/11 was innocent Muslims came under suspicion. Yeah, where that did happen, it's wrong. But the worst thing about 9/11 was 3,000 people got roasted at the office. But the prevailing view of so many young people is that, ‘Well, we're the worst country ever, so if someone attacks us, they can't be all bad.’”

 

 

Contrasting the worldview of today’s left with the country’s response to 9/11, Maher continued, “That certainly wasn't the attitude 25 years ago. In fact, I know a guy whose show got cancelled just for saying the terrorists weren't cowards. And that guy was right: they weren't. But I'll tell you who is: Democratic Party politicians. And I'll tell you why: because nowhere has the moral confusion become more obvious than in a place called Gaza. A little strip of land that was not part of the original Israel, but which they won in a war launched against them, but then gave back—gave back—as a peace gesture. Do they tell you that part on TikTok, kids.”

Maher then gave rapper Macklemore a much-needed smack down, “And the people who run Gaza, Hamas, who you celebrate as a liberation movement but are really a terrorist mafia gang just like the one that terrorizes Haiti, only ever used it to stage attacks on Israel. I think Macklemore spoke for all clueless celebrities when he said, ‘I know enough to know this is a genocide.’ Actually, you don't know shit.”

Despite Maher’s denunciation of the media, Real Time still should not be confused with a conservative show. However, that Maher did denounce the media does highlight that he is the only late night comedy show willing to make fun of or criticize the left. The other comedians who claim they have a moral imperative to talk about Donald Trump nonstop should take notes.

Here is a transcript for the September 11 show:

HBO Real Time with Bill Maher

9/11/2026

BILL MAHER: Now, a lot of media outlets don’t even want you to say the T-word. On the 20th anniversary, four American journalism associations put out guidance that said that "Terrorism" should only be used in quotes because it's "emotionally and politically loaded." Yeah, so is the World Cup, but we don't put "Soccer" in quotes? 

Really? We can't anymore just say, out loud, who the bad guys were that morning? Those 19 hijackers? They shared something—oh, let's call it a worldview—and it wasn't astrology. But somehow, over time, we've decided not to harp on that. The whole business about "Who wanted us dead and why?" Let's not put a name on it.

When it comes to terrorist attacks—please, there are very fine people on both sides. Canadian state TV told its reporters, "Do not refer to the September 11 attacks as terrorist attacks." No? Even though the very definition of terrorism is using violence against civilians to pursue ideological goals? What should we call it then? Unruly passengers? A wrong turn taken at the Chrysler Building?

Why not just say the planes and the towers "Got into a fight." I mean, after all, as the BBC advised its reporters, using the word "Terrorist" can be a, quote, "barrier rather than an aid to understanding."

You know what's really a "Barrier to understanding"? Lying. Back in 2001, I said this: Well, it didn't last.

MAHER [2001]:  Political correctness itself is something we can no longer afford. Feelings are going to get hurt so that actual people won't.

MAHER: Well, it didn't last. I mean my show.  

As for the idea of ditching political correctness and actually being honest—that never even got off the ground. After 9/11, there was a big debate: Was this a clash of civilizations? It was, and it still is. Not between Muslims and Christians, no reasonable person was saying that—but radical Islamism versus Western liberalism? Yes. That's a real thing. Fighting people who hate freedom of religion and hate homosexuals and hate the idea of women as equal and free humans—how did liberals wind up on their side? And many did. One in five young Americans now has a positive view of Osama bin Laden. He's like Luigi Mangione in a turban.

You hear it in a lot of places now: That the worst thing about 9/11 was innocent Muslims came under suspicion. Yeah, where that did happen, it's wrong. But the worst thing about 9/11 was 3,000 people got roasted at the office.

But the prevailing view of so many young people is that, "Well, we're the worst country ever, so if someone attacks us, they can't be all bad." 

That certainly wasn't the attitude 25 years ago. In fact, I know a guy whose show got cancelled just for saying the terrorists weren't cowards.

And that guy was right: they weren't. But I'll tell you who is: Democratic Party politicians. And I'll tell you why: because nowhere has the moral confusion become more obvious than in a place called Gaza. A little strip of land that was not part of the original Israel, but which they won in a war launched against them, but then gave back—gave back—as a peace gesture.

Do they tell you that part on TikTok, kids? And the people who run Gaza, Hamas, who you celebrate as a liberation movement but are really a terrorist mafia gang just like the one that terrorizes Haiti, only ever used it to stage attacks on Israel.

I think Macklemore spoke for all clueless celebrities when he said, "I know enough to know this is a genocide." Actually, you don't know shit.

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