Political commentator Bill Maher is urging Democratic leadership to take action following Whoopi Goldberg’s controversial comments on The View, where she compared the experiences of Black Americans to living under Iran’s brutal regime.
On Real Time, Maher criticized Goldberg for drawing a false equivalence that downplays systemic oppression in authoritarian states. He described her remarks as “outrageous” and called on Democrats to address “The View” directly for airing them.
Maher also praised more measured coverage from outlets like The New York Times, but emphasized that Democrats must go further. “Step one is undoing the damage. Step two is actually doing something about The View,” he said.
Republicans were quick to seize on the controversy. Rep. Wesley Hunt, whose family escaped slavery, rejected Goldberg’s comparison, citing his own success in a predominantly white district as proof of American opportunity. “Let’s not misrepresent progress,” he said.
Goldberg made the comparison during a tense debate with host Alyssa Farah Griffin, who highlighted Iran’s widespread repression of women and LGBTQ people. Goldberg countered that Black Americans do not feel fundamentally safer here. Griffin shot back, “In 2025 America, that’s not true.”
The exchange attracted widespread backlash, including from Iranian activists, and prompted calls for accountability. Maher’s demand reflects growing urgency within progressive ranks to confront inflammatory rhetoric and restore focus on fact-based debate.