Bill Maher Critiques Elon Musk and Defense Spending Gaps on Real Time

On a recent episode of HBO’s Real Time, host Bill Maher took a sharp stance against prominent figures like Elon Musk and the digital currency DOGE regarding the need for significant cuts in military spending.

Maher opened with a clip of former President Donald Trump, who had previously claimed that his administration could uncover “hundreds of billions of dollars in fraud and abuse” within the military. This assertion stood in stark contrast to statements from the Department of Defense, which announced a mere $580 million reduction from its staggering $900 billion budget.

The host remarked, “When they discussed shrinking the government, I thought it was a good idea. However, the real test will be whether they tackle the biggest bloated area: obsolete weapons programs.” Maher referenced Musk’s post from last November expressing the urgent need to halt what he termed the worst military value for money, specifically targeting the infamous F-35 program. He humorously acknowledged Musk’s influence by saying, “Exactly your X-cellence.”

With a sardonic twist, Maher noted that Trump had recently announced the development of a new fighter jet, the F-47. The host challenged the logic behind introducing new fighter jets at a time when drones have transformed air combat. He said, “I feel like both of you are deliberately ignoring the obvious issue. The new administration appears just like the previous one, continuing with the waste outlined as a possible $2 trillion cut, which isn’t going to happen simply by axing mailmen or staff advising against leaning over the Grand Canyon rail.”

Maher drew attention to DOGE’s reported savings of $35 billion, yet criticized it for not addressing the much larger financial concerns at the Pentagon, a department that Eisenhower warned about over sixty years ago. Highlighting the daunting figure of $6.8 trillion in the 2024 federal budget, he pointed out that defense spending comprises a staggering 47 percent of the $1.8 trillion in discretionary spending, while all other government departments struggle to stay in single digits.

“Are we to believe that there is hardly any waste in this massive allocation?” Maher questioned emphatically, gesturing to the 47 percent of the budget. “I may not possess coding skills like Elon’s tech-savvy team, but I certainly understand how to interpret a pie chart.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to Elon Musk’s representatives for their response to Maher’s comments.

In further humorous commentary, Maher noted, “It is fascinating how both the political left and right in our country harbor mutual disdain, yet they share two agreements: always watch the Jewish community closely and automatically endorse an ever-growing defense budget. It is perceived as perfect, akin to that of the Virgin Mary, and always deemed acceptable, even if it inflates further. It resembles a bloated version of the Virgin Mary.”

Delving deeper into the implications of U.S. defense spending, Maher revealed that this spending level surpasses the combined total of the next nine countries in military expenditures. He cited a Pentagon study from 2017 that acknowledged an excess of military bases, suggesting that the U.S. has 19 percent more bases globally than actually necessary.

Asking a poignant rhetorical question, he wondered, “Wouldn’t it be efficient to close a few of the 750 bases stationed in 80 countries worldwide? Do we really need each one? Is there no opportunity to utilize that chainsaw?” He added, in a humorous tone, “The Air Force possesses 51 golf courses, while the Marines have ten, and Guam has two. Is there really no cost-cutting to be done there?”

In a critical examination of another government entity, Maher labeled the Department of Homeland Security as the epitome of a “bloated bureaucracy,” describing it as a “Frankenstein monster birthed in the panic following the 9/11 attacks.”

Highlighting DOGE’s modest savings of $50 million from its extensive $170 billion budget, he remarked, “Every facet of government has had to tighten its belt. Why should this area be exempt? Especially when this is the branch that requires me to remove my belt at airport security?” He expressed frustration about the persistence of security measures that began over two decades ago. “This started before the advent of smartphones and artificial intelligence. Surely, there must be a more efficient method for ensuring safety without forcing everyone to undress in public every time they want to board a plane.”

Maher concluded with a reflection on contemporary travel security, stating, “No one understands the necessity of capturing your image simply to fly from Tulsa to Spokane. It is no longer 9/11; we are in 2025. The real fear lies not in hijackers but within the reliability of the aircraft itself.”