Bill Maher said that the wave of musicians backing out of the America 250 concert series sends a political message that ends up hurting Democrats. The comments came on Friday on “Real Time.”

“They all pulled out,” Maher said during Friday’s episode of HBO’s “Real Time.” “This is a question about what looks best for the Democrats, because I don’t think that looks good.

“It looks like you are just what people say about you, you don’t really love America. It looks [like] you think Trump is more important than the country itself.”

Maher said the withdrawals shift the tone of the broader Independence Day–style celebration and strip it of neutrality. He said the result turns the programming into something far more politically defined than originally intended. “Now it’s just a big MAGA rally, this whole thing,” he said. “Now it’s Trump and Lee Greenwood.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to play this gig? Can’t we all just celebrate America itself and leave Trump out of it?”

The comments came after several performers, including Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, The Commodores, Morris Day, C+C Music Factory, and Young MC, pulled out of the Great American State Fair and Freedom 250-related programming in Washington, DC. Some of the artists said they had been misled about the event.

The Freedom 250 series is tied to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations and was created through a Trump executive order. It is scheduled to take over the National Mall from June 25 through July 10.

President Donald Trump responded to the evolving lineup on Truth Social, defending the direction of the event. “We don’t want singers with no talent, but big fees to put you to sleep, we’ve told them all to stay home,” Trump wrote.

“All we want is you, me, a few speakers, and the Greatest Music ever played, the same Music you have listened to for years!”

Trump also promoted performers expected to remain on the bill, including country singer Lee Greenwood and tenor Christopher Macchio. “Not since the legendary Luciano Pavarotti has there been such a voice!” he said.

He added that US military bands and choruses will also perform as part of the celebration lineup.