During a Monday interview with The Free Press, Bill Maher claimed he would “love” to have Tucker Carlson on one of his shows, insisting there’s only one reason it hasn’t happened yet: Carlson is “afraid.”
Maher made the comments while talking with reporter Maya Sulkin about booking guests for HBO’s Real Time and his Club Random podcast. According to Maher, almost everyone is fair game — except “little prick” Nick Fuentes, whom Maher dismissed because Fuentes is a self-proclaimed Hitler lover.
Carlson, however, is supposedly more than welcome. Maher claimed his team has reached out and that conversations with Carlson’s camp have gone nowhere.
“There were moments where it seemed like he was either going to do [Club Random], but they were very squirrely and I think it was always bullsh*t,” Maher said. “I mean I think he’s afraid. If I were him, I’d be afraid to talk to me too.”
That’s a bold accusation considering Carlson’s post-Fox News career has been defined by long-form interviews, independent commentary, and millions of viewers tuning in without corporate backing. Since being booted from Fox News in 2023, Carlson has arguably expanded his reach — something Maher seems eager to tap into.
Maher insisted he wouldn’t ambush Carlson or turn the appearance into a hit job. He promised a friendly atmosphere, claiming every guest leaves happy — even left-wing firebrand Ana Kasparian after a heated Middle East debate earlier this month.
“There’s nothing you can do that’s more fun than getting high with me,” Maher added.
Carlson, for his part, hasn’t exactly been flattering. Earlier this year, he said he felt “sorry” for Maher because the comedian had “accrued no wisdom” in his life — a line that likely still stings.
Earlier in the interview, Sulkin pressed Maher about Carlson’s ideological shift since leaving Fox.
“How did he go from a pretty normal Republican to, you know, spewing complete conspiracy theories?” she asked. “I would argue he is more than a little bit dangerous.”
Maher responded by suggesting Carlson’s evolution was driven by competition in the digital media space, saying it was for “clicks” and to stand out in a crowded field. He added that while he doesn’t think Carlson truly believes the conspiracy theories he now discusses, he does believe Candace Owens believes in them.
In the end, Maher may call Tucker “afraid,” but the reality looks different from the right: Carlson doesn’t need HBO, weed smoke, or liberal validation.
