Late night host Bill Maher said Democrats needed to cool it with indigenous land acknowledgments if they wanted to start winning elections again.
“Democrats, if you ever want to win an election again, the absolute most important first step is to stop doing this,” Maher said in an X post linking to a clip of a more than six minute denunciation of native civilizations.
Maher’s monologue was sparked by a moment during the Oscars where actress Julianne Hough gave recognition to three Native American tribes in a 15-second segment during the ceremony.
“Either give the land back or shut the f—k up,” Maher snapped. “I understand the desire to right the wrongs of the past, especially when you get to take the moral high ground and then build an 8,000 square foot mansion on it.”
Maher was joined on set by “The View” co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin and former Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester — who both chuckled politely during the remarks.
Ancient people, Maher insisted were “just as full of s—t. In fact, more full of s—t than humans today,” before noting the well-documented history of pre-colonial natives warring amongst themselves and enslaving one another and cannibalism.
“Did you know that well before 1619, Indians practiced slavery here in America, and the Apache, Iroquois and Sioux all tried to wipe out their fellow tribes?” Maher said.
“I know it’s comforting to think that there was this ethereal time and place before white guys in suits, when everyone was a gentle, nature loving child, poet who split their time between riding deer and drinking dew, but it’s just not true.”
