'Real Time' host Bill Maher says liberals are like 'Mean Girls' who handed out Kennedy Center honors to leftist celebrities...then howled with outrage when Donald Trump announced he's doing the same. 

The increasingly centrist Democrat made the remarks on Overtime Friday - a 10-15-minute segment that airs immediately after his HBO show live on YouTube.

Joining him were figures such as Alyssa Farah Griffin, one of the hosts of The View and former first-term Trump aide.

Also at the table was Jon Tester - former Democratic senator from Montana - and decorated writer David Sedaris.

The topic of discussion was Trump's forced, federal takeover of the iconic DC arts venue last month - a move meant to stomp out ‘woke’ performances from a taxpayer-funded venue, the president said.

However, it immediately spawned pushback from figures like Jeffrey Seller and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creators of the hit musical Hamilton. The pair cancelled all their shows slated for 2026 in response.

The two also accused the president of politicizing the Kennedy Center in the process - a viewpoint other stars took as well. 

Maher, in turn, suggested the center had already been politicized for quite some time - pointing to the types of people attending its ceremonies as proof.

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Bill Maher slammed the left's 'exclusionary attitude' on his show Friday - at least when it came to over-politicization from Kennedy Center brass before Donald Trump took it over in February

Bill Maher slammed the left's 'exclusionary attitude' on his show Friday - at least when it came to over-politicization from Kennedy Center brass before Donald Trump took it over in February

The increasingly centrist Democrat made the remarks on Overtime Friday, where he was joined by former Trump aide Alyssa Farah Griffin, ex-Montana Senator Jon Tester (far left), and author David Sedaris (far right)

The increasingly centrist Democrat made the remarks on Overtime Friday, where he was joined by former Trump aide Alyssa Farah Griffin, ex-Montana Senator Jon Tester (far left), and author David Sedaris (far right)

'I will say this in defense of the other side on this one, because I watched the Kennedy Center Honors this year,' he began, weeks after welcoming well-known conservative Kid Rock as a guest.

'It was in December. It's always in December. I always watch it. 

'And this year, they honored Francis Ford Coppola and the Grateful Dead,' he recalled - detailing a ceremony that saw the stars and others like George Lucas decked out in rainbow regalia while receiving their medals. 

'Maybe I'm wrong, because I didn't do an exhaustive study, but... I did not see one person in the audience or one person on the stage who you would think voted for Donald Trump. 

'This is the last month of the Biden administration, and having just lost the election, I just thought, "You know what? Invite Ted Cruz,"' Maher went on.

'If this is supposed to be America, and we're all together, and you just lost, invite some of the people who you wouldn't suspect to be there. 

'I'm sure Ted Cruz or somebody like that likes Francis Ford Coppola, everybody likes "The Godfather,"' he continued. 

'I'm sure there are some Republicans who are Grateful Dead fans. And it's just like, "No." The mean girls were like, "No, it's our last time. And this is what you get."'

The topic of discussion was Trump's forced, federal takeover of the iconic DC institution last month - a move meant to stomp out ¿ woke ¿ performances from a taxpayer-funded venue, the president said

The topic of discussion was Trump's forced, federal takeover of the iconic DC institution last month - a move meant to stomp out ‘ woke ’ performances from a taxpayer-funded venue, the president said 

However, it immediately spawned pushback from figures like  Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creators of the hit musical Hamilton. He and fellow creator Jeffrey Seller cancelled all their shows slated for 2026 in response> Miranda is seen with the former first couple in 2015

However, it immediately spawned pushback from figures like  Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creators of the hit musical Hamilton. He and fellow creator Jeffrey Seller cancelled all their shows slated for 2026 in response> Miranda is seen with the former first couple in 2015

The two also accused the president of politicizing the Kennedy Center as well - a stance Maher cast doubt on during the discussion

The two also accused the president of politicizing the Kennedy Center as well - a stance Maher cast doubt on during the discussion

Taking the time to crack another joke, Maher rattled off the name of an obscure - and outspoken Republican - actor who played Hercules on TV in the 90s.

'And now, you know, Kevin Sorbo will be winning the next Kennedy Center Honors,' he quipped. 

'It's just a bad attitude.'

Maher's conclusion about the lack of representation sparked some confusion from fellow panelist Tester, who asked Maher for further clarification.

'So what you're saying is there were no Republicans in the audience?' the Democrat asked - to which Maher explained. 'I didn't see anybody throughout the whole show who I thought, "Oh, this is a person who voted for Trump,"

'I just felt when they cut to the audience, it was just the usual suspects,' he continued.

'And like, okay, I get it. You're right. It does skew left, but just – that's what they do. 

'What really bugs me about the left, that exclusionary attitude. And like – but you just lost,' he went on. 

'You don't have the juice to pull that off anymore!'

suggested the center had already been politicized for quite some time - pointing to the types of people attending its ceremonies as proof

suggested the center had already been politicized for quite some time - pointing to the types of people attending its ceremonies as proof

'I will say this in defense of the other side on this one, because I watched the Kennedy Center Honors this year,' he began, mentioning a ceremony that saw Francis Ford Coppola and members of the Grateful Dead honored

'I will say this in defense of the other side on this one, because I watched the Kennedy Center Honors this year,' he began, mentioning a ceremony that saw Francis Ford Coppola and members of the Grateful Dead honored

'Maybe I'm wrong, because I didn't do an exhaustive study, but... I did not see one person in the audience or one person on the stage who you would think voted for [Trump]... 'If this is supposed to be America... invite some of the people who you wouldn't suspect to be there'

'Maybe I'm wrong, because I didn't do an exhaustive study, but... I did not see one person in the audience or one person on the stage who you would think voted for [Trump]... 'If this is supposed to be America... invite some of the people who you wouldn't suspect to be there'

"I've only been to it in person twice in 18 years,' Tester at this point admitted, before revisiting parts Maher's argument.  

'Both times that I went there, once about three years ago, there were a lot of Republicans in the audience during the Biden administration,' he claimed.

'Okay, maybe they just didn't show them,' Maher sniped sarcastically.

As for Washington's premier cultural venue, it was seized by Trump toward the start of February - a move he said was designed to put an end to events featuring performers in drag. 

Trump, taking to Truth Social to do so, said at the time: 'At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, GREAT AGAIN.' 

'I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.

'We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!'

Replacing the philanthropist chairman David Rubenstein was none other than the celebrity-obsessed president himself - a move that further ruffled feathers.

'I'm sure Ted Cruz or somebody like that likes Francis Ford Coppola, everybody likes "The Godfather,"' he continued. 'I'm sure there are some Republicans who are Grateful Dead fans. And it's just like, "No." The mean girls were like, "No, it's our last time... this is what you get"'

'I'm sure Ted Cruz or somebody like that likes Francis Ford Coppola, everybody likes "The Godfather,"' he continued. 'I'm sure there are some Republicans who are Grateful Dead fans. And it's just like, "No." The mean girls were like, "No, it's our last time... this is what you get"'

Maher's conclusion about the lack of representation comes as Democrats continue to cast blame either elsewhere or within their own party as to the reasons for their 2024 election loss

Maher's conclusion about the lack of representation comes as Democrats continue to cast blame either elsewhere or within their own party as to the reasons for their 2024 election loss 

Joining Sellers and Miranda in swearing off the venue was Singer Ben Folds, who put out a statement announcing he would no longer serve as artistic advisor to its National Symphony Orchestra.

Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Grey's Anatomy who had served as the Kennedy Center's treasurer, left after hearing the news as well. 

Actress and opera singer Renee Flemming, another artistic advisor, also announced her departure. 

Maher's comments, meanwhile, came two days before he would appear again with Rock on Monday’s Club Random podcast.

There, he admitted during a discussion with his new, unlikely friend, that he’s not sure we will 'ever see a Democrat president again' due to what he and others have painted as persistence - and even self-righteous - arrogance.

Over the weekend, Rock said he plans to bring Maher as a dinner guest to the White House for a chat with President Trump soon.