It’s an old clip, but it’s still relevant, as radical Islamic terrorism is still a threat, and we’re seeing an uptick in antisemitism, pro-Hamas, and all-around whack job candidacies emerge from within the Democrat Party.
In 2014, Bill Maher and pro-Palestinian Rula Jebreal had a heated exchange about Islam. Maher has always been outspoken against radical Islam, was upset that Mohammed was among the top names for newborns in England, and refuses to bow to political correctness on the issue. He has been expressing his opinions on this for over a generation. At that time, he was disinvited from delivering a commencement speech at UC Berkeley because of his views on Islam, although the administration overruled the students. It’s when Jebreal issued a thinly-veiled remark that Maher’s points were bigoted that things got going. Also, sorry, she said you could be gay in Gaza — lady, that’s patently false:
“Bill Maher and Rula Jebreal's Debate on Islam Took a Heated Turn Live on Air.”
— Jeff (@_Jeffery0) August 1, 2026
Rula Jebreal: Would you accept an openly anti-Semitic person to give a commencement speech to Jewish students? I actually would not.
Bill Maher: Even Reza Aslan says I'm not a bigot, so I resent the… pic.twitter.com/X8VpnXqTiR
Rula Jebreal: Would you accept an openly anti-Semitic person to give a commencement speech to Jewish students? I actually would not.
Bill Maher: Even Reza Aslan says I'm not a bigot, so I resent the idea that I'm comparable to an anti-Semite. All I've ever done is read facts.
Rula Jebreal: What facts? You never invited... I'm sorry, Bill.
You're comparing Jihadists, Salafists, Sunnis... You don't know the difference. You're putting all Muslims into one bucket, including secular Muslims. And when you talk about them that way, Bill, it's offensive.
Bill Maher: But it's okay to be offensive.
Sen. Angus King: That's what free speech is all about. If free speech is only speech you like, it's not free speech.
Rula Jebreal: He was invited to give a commencement speech, not a debate. If you want a debate, I'll gladly join you anywhere.
Sen. Angus. King: He was invited to be a commencement speaker, and then people didn't like what he said.
Bill Maher: Can you be gay in Gaza? And live?
Rula Jebreal: Yes, you can. Absolutely. You're comparing the majority of Muslim countries to places like Saudi Arabia.
Bill Maher: Is there a gay bar in Gaza?
Rula Jebreal: I travel the Middle East. This is what I do for a living. You're comparing all Muslim societies as if they're the same.
Gen. Wesley Clark: I think this is really about whether someone can be invited to give a speech. People may agree or disagree, but that's the American system. People should be allowed to speak.
Rula Jebreal: The Muslim community in this country is being treated like a fifth column, and they're not.
They feel threatened, they're underrepresented in the media and politics, and you never invite them here to discuss these issues.
Bill Maher: Never invite them? You're here. Reza is here. They're here all the time.
Rula Jebreal: On these issues.
Bill Maher: Every time I say something you don't like, suddenly it's not a serious conversation or I'm a bigot. That doesn't work for me.
Rula Jebreal: I don't want a war on Islam. I want to win the war on terror.
But when you repeat the same things Al-Qaeda used to say—that this is a war on Islam—you're doing their work for them.
My father was Muslim. He was Sufi. You don't even know the difference between Sufi, Sunni Shafi'i, or Sunni Hanbali.
Bill Maher: Yeah, I do.
Rula Jebreal: For you, we're all Jihadists.
Bill Maher: I know that in many places around the world, if you left your religion, there would be consequences.
Would it be okay for someone to say, "You know what? I'm a Presbyterian today?"
You can’t have a serious conversation when this exchange was anything but, and I’m not talking about Bill.
Dear Lord.
Bill Maher: Can you be gay in Gaza? And live?
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) August 2, 2026
Rula Jebreal: Yes, you can. Absolutely. You're comparing the majority of Muslim countries to places like Saudi Arabia.
Bill Maher: Is there a gay bar in Gaza? https://t.co/XKGY3rcJuZ pic.twitter.com/6RkS8lWeMW
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