HBO host Bill Maher faced surprising silence from university activists during Friday’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” as Hamas kills Palestinians in Gaza.
Maher asked guest Mark Cuban about the disappearance of “college kids wearing keffiyehs” after “Hamas shoots everyone.” “Where are the protesters?” Maher said. “Suddenly, college students wearing keffiyehs became very quiet.” The Cuban agreed to this, and responded by “shooting everyone.” Maher repeated this phrase.
These statements come after months of student demonstrations that swept American universities. The demonstrators chanted anti-Israel slogans and clashed with the police. Hundreds faced arrest. Critics said their Palestinian support had shifted from anti-war activism to support for Hamas. (Related: Hamas launches deadly attacks against its rivals in Gaza City after the peace agreement)
Bill Maher wonders where the “keffiyeh-wearing college kids” have gone now that “Hamas is shooting everyone.”
“Where are the protesters?!” Maher shouted.
Maher: “Have you noticed, now that Hamas has taken control again, what?”
Mark Cuban: “Fire everyone.”
Maher:… pic.twitter.com/wv2DX7NKnp
– Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) October 18, 2025
Federal authorities investigated several students for their ties to terrorist groups. President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for the cancellation of visas for foreign students who support Hamas.
Recent footage showed Hamas fighters executing Palestinians in the main square of Gaza City. Reuters reported that Hamas killed at least 33 people in recent days after agreeing to a truce with Israel.
Trump addressed the killings Thursday on Truth Social. He added: “If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not part of the agreement, we will have no choice but to enter and kill them.” books.
Maher called for the “inconsistency of what is happening” and criticized the demonstrators for their silence after months of noisy demonstrations.
The comedian had previously described elite US universities as “indoctrination factories” in August, claiming they had become anti-American.