Comedian and HBO host Bill Maher accused President Donald Trump of embracing “socialism” more openly than Democrats during Friday’s broadcast of Real Time, pointing to the administration’s interventions in private enterprise.

Citing recent federal stakes and revenue-sharing arrangements involving major technology and industrial firms, Maher argued that the administration's policies mirrored those traditionally championed by the far left.

“It’s so interesting, the wrinkle in this story, because now that they’re communists, there’s an opening for socialism. And you know who’s filling it? Donald Trump!” Maher said. “Donald Trump, how else do you explain a 9.9 stake in Intel by the government? Is that not socialism?”

Maher highlighted federal deals involving a 15 percent cut on Nvidia’s exports to China and a government golden share, allowing it to outvote all other shareholders, in Nippon Steel’s merger with U.S. Steel, arguing the administration now essentially ran their boardroom. He suggested the administration's heavy-handed approach to private business aligned closely with policies favored by Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders.

“And you know this is socialism, I think, because Bernie Sanders agrees with it all,” Maher said. “He wants to do it with the AI companies.”

The critique comes shortly after Maher defended his decision to dine with Trump at the White House, arguing during a July 15 appearance on NPR’s Newsmakers that engaging with the president was essential because Trump lacked fixed beliefs and was influenced by those around him.

Addressing backlash over the dinner, Maher rejected claims that meeting with Trump elevated his platform, noting that the president already held the highest office and acted on input from those who talked to him.

Guest Tara Palmeri, a journalist, argued on the show that traditional free-market dynamics had been abandoned, noting that federal support had influenced market performance directly benefiting administration figures.

“They have decided that the government wants to control 30 different companies. And Intel alone, which was a loser because of Nvidia, they have, they basically own 9.9% of that company,” Palmeri said. “And that’s a lot.”

She added: “And President Trump, after they invested in this company, he then went on to buy stocks in Nvidia, which shot up 200%. Okay, so he actually made a ton of money on this. His government created a floor on a stock. That he owns! It’s crony capitalism too!”

Maher agreed with the “crony capitalism” label, while libertarian commentator Matt Welch, who also appeared on the panel, called the White House’s pressure tactics against corporate leadership unprecedented.

“Donald Trump was out there saying we need to maybe fire the CEO of Intel because I think he’s a Chinese spy,” Welch said. “It’s like, what? The president is just singling out a huge CEO of an important company and so they had to scramble the Jets and have a meeting at the White House and what happened at the end of that meeting?

“OK, you say we get 10% of your company. That is thuggish behavior. We have never seen anything like this in modern time.”