HBO host Bill Maher described California Gov. Gavin Newsom as “a pretty liberal guy” while discussing the political divide among Democrats over a proposed wealth tax on billionaires.
Maher made the comments during the online “Overtime” segment following Friday’s broadcast of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher. The panel discussion focused on Sen. Bernie Sanders’ proposal to impose a wealth tax targeting the nation’s billionaires.
During the conversation, Maher pointed out that not all Democrats support the idea, highlighting Newsom as an example of a prominent liberal who has expressed skepticism toward such a policy.
“It’s interesting that there is a split in the Democrat,” Maher said. “Gavin Newsom’s a pretty liberal guy. He’s against this.”
Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats, has repeatedly advocated for a national wealth tax aimed at redistributing wealth from the country’s richest individuals. The proposal has been a key element of his broader push for policies designed to reduce income inequality.
Maher said that while a wealth tax may not dramatically affect billionaires themselves, implementing the policy at the state level can create unintended consequences.
“I don’t think it’s a big deal for billionaires,” Maher said during the discussion. However, he warned that state-level wealth taxes can drive wealthy residents to relocate to other states with more favorable tax policies.
California has faced similar concerns in recent years, with some high-income residents leaving the state amid rising taxes and living costs.
Maher suggested that such migration risks are one reason why Newsom has not supported the wealth tax concept, despite being widely viewed as a progressive Democratic leader.
At the same time, Maher expressed doubt that a nationwide wealth tax proposal like the one championed by Sanders could realistically pass in Washington.
“I don’t think a federal version of a wealth tax is going to happen,” he said.
The debate over taxing the wealthiest Americans has been a recurring topic in national politics, with supporters arguing it could generate significant government revenue while critics say it could discourage investment and drive capital out of the country.
Maher’s comments reflect the broader divide within the Democratic Party over how aggressively to pursue policies targeting high-income earners and the ultra-wealthy.
