{"id":2400733,"date":"2025-02-09T10:00:02","date_gmt":"2025-02-09T15:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maher-laughs-when-donalds-defends-trumps-transparency-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-09T10:01:26","modified_gmt":"2025-02-09T15:01:26","slug":"maher-laughs-when-donalds-defends-trumps-transparency-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maher-laughs-when-donalds-defends-trumps-transparency-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Maher laughs when Donalds defends Trump&#8217;s &#8216;transparency&#8217; &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmaher-laughs-when-donalds-defends-trumps-transparency-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2400733&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In a\u2064 recent episode of &#8220;Real Time with Bill Maher,&#8221; \u2062Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) debated with\u2062 host Bill maher about the moralities \u200bof Joe Biden versus Donald Trump. donalds defended Trump, \u2062arguing that during his presidency, Trump provided transparency through executive orders, contrasting this with what he described as the Biden governance&#8217;s lack \u200dof openness. Maher,\u200b though, questioned whether trump had truly operated within constitutional bounds, referring to critiques from others, including Russell Vought. The discussion touched on issues\u200b such as\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/snl-elon-musk-wants-to-buy-twitter-so-white-guys-can-say-the-n-word\/\" title=\"\u2018SNL\u2019: Elon Musk Wants To Buy Twitter So White Guys Can Say \u2018The N-Word\u2019\">free speech restrictions<\/a> under Biden and Trump&#8217;s approach to \u2063communication and governance, with\u2063 Maher expressing skepticism about the notion of \u200da &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/newt-gingrich-has-the-fbi-crossed-the-rubicon\/\" title=\"Newt Gingrich: Has the ... Crossed the Rubicon?\">post-constitutional<\/a>&#8221; era under Biden. Donalds maintained that\u200c Biden&#8217;s actions \u200bconstituted executive overreach, while Maher highlighted Trump&#8217;s controversial tactics, including \u200baggressive rhetoric from his nominees. The \u2063<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">conversation \u2063highlighted contrasting perspectives<\/a> on transparency, executive \u200bpower, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/karine-jean-pierre-refuses-to-call-on-new-york-post-reporter-and-im-not-calling-on-you-today\/\" title=\"Karine Jean-Pierre declines to address New York Post ...orter: &#039;Not today.&#039;\">press\u2064 relations<\/a> during both administrations.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Bill Maher laughs when Byron Donalds defends Trump&rsquo;s &lsquo;transparency&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1984056\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Rep. <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/byron-donalds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Byron Donalds<\/a> (R-FL) debated with late night talk show host <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-maher\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Bill Maher<\/a> about whether Joe Biden or <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump<\/a> had any moral high ground to stand on.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Trump has issued a flurry of executive orders that have resulted in nearly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/education\/3314409\/students-sue-education-department-halt-doge-data-access\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"60 lawsuits\">60 lawsuits<\/a> so far against him and his administration. Maher suggested on his talk show <em>Real Time with Bill Maher<\/em> on Saturday that the new president was acting &ldquo;extra legally.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3292730\/all-executive-orders-actions-trump-first-day\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FULL LIST OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS, ACTIONS, AND PROCLAMATIONS TRUMP HAS MADE AS PRESIDENT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Now here&rsquo;s where I got to push back because, as a member of Congress, under the previous administration, we would have inquiries. We would request information. We would want Cabinet secretaries and assistant secretaries and deputy secretaries to come before committee. We would send letter after letter after letter and get no response. The Biden administration operated literally in the shadows,&rdquo; Donalds explained. &ldquo;At least Donald Trump puts it out in the litany of orders that come out that day.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share.php?id=2793572&amp;userid=11311&amp;loginid=10455&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=882b580edab7796a5c9bfd7d499e5a84\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&ldquo;Well, that&rsquo;s quite a charitable view of it,&rdquo; Maher said while laughing. &ldquo;Do you believe, as [Russell] Vought said, that we are in a post-constitutional time? Because I didn&lsquo;t get that from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Biden-administration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Biden administration<\/a>. They did make mistakes. Some of what you say is true, but a post-constitutional time?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Maher was quoting White House Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought. He served as OMB Director during Trump&rsquo;s first term and was recently confirmed to serve in the same role for the second time.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you believe that it is OK for the executive branch to suppress free speech, if you believe that it is OK for the executive branch to tell soldiers, to tell workers that they have to take a vaccine or they&lsquo;re going to lose their jobs, then yes, you are in a post-constitutional situation because then the executive becomes all-powerful,&rdquo; Donalds said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what the Joe Biden presidency was. They were suppressing speech.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I was critical of that. It&rsquo;s a little different than the head of the FBI saying, &lsquo;We&rsquo;re coming after our enemies,&#8217;&rdquo; Maher said.<\/p>\n<p>This time, Maher was quoting Trump&rsquo;s FBI Director nominee Kash Patel in a reference to Patel&rsquo;s 2023 book titled,&nbsp;<em>Government Gangsters,&nbsp;<\/em>in which he&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Timodc\/status\/1863620081873244259\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">identified<\/a>&nbsp;a list of people he referred to as &ldquo;criminals.&rdquo; The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-enemies-face-uncertainty-with-a-bondi-doj\/\" title=\"... enemies face uncertainty with a Bondi DOJ\">list included dozens<\/a> of Democratic lawmakers and Republican lawmakers who have fallen out of favor with Trump.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s administration has made several attempts to increase accessibility. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Department-of-Government-Efficiency\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Department of Government Efficiency<\/a> has its own X account that posts several times a day. Meanwhile, the White House press briefings are opening up to smaller outlets, reserving a rotating seat in the front row for reporters who weren&rsquo;t traditionally present.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Trump had thousands more words to add to the record during his first week in office compared to his predecessor. Meanwhile, Biden&rsquo;s addresses during his first week in office added up to 24,259 words, according to Factba.se. Biden had a low 37 press conferences over his four years, which Trump doubled during his first term as president and is expected to beat this term.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1984056\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1984056\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bill Maher chuckles as Byron Donalds defends Trump&#8217;s &#8216;transparency.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2631,"featured_media":2400734,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/AP21134082736586-1024x691.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32319,5689,32171,12404,32076],"class_list":["post-2400733","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-donald-trump","tag-maher","tag-political-commentary","tag-transparency","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/AP21134082736586-1024x691.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2400733","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2631"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2400733"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2400733\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2400737,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2400733\/revisions\/2400737"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2400734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2400733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2400733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2400733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}