Author Fran Lebowitz suggested on Bill Maher’s show Friday that President Donald Trump should face the same fate as former Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and then later half-heartedly walked back the remarks.
Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered last October in the Saudi consulate in Turkey, while many U.S. lawmakers believe that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the assassination.
Following questions by Maher on the subject of impeachment, Lebowitz stated, “Impeachment would be just the beginning of what he deserves. Not even scratching the surface of what he deserves.”
On HBO’s @RealTimers on Friday night, guest #FranLebowitz suggested murdering @realDonaldTrump: “We should turn him over to the Saudis, his buddies. The same Saudis who got rid of that reporter. Maybe they could do the same for him.” #RealTime pic.twitter.com/X5IDzZGxM8
— Brent Baker (@BrentHBaker) May 18, 2019
“Whenever I think about this and what he really deserves, I think we should turn him over to the Saudis…his buddies,” she continued. “The same Saudis, you know, who got rid of that reporter. Maybe they could do the same for him.” (RELATED: Marco Rubio Says America’s Reputation On ‘Human Rights’ Should Trump Arms Deal With Saudi Arabia)
Later on the show, Maher said, “What happened? You said something and they’re mad at you. I know this feeling. What, the thing you said about the Saudis? You were making a joke and it went too far, we’re sorry. Is that where we are?”
Now Lebowitz claims she did not know that she said what she said
She says she regrets that everyone “misinterpreted” her commentspic.twitter.com/SBtoTPFfEb
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) May 18, 2019
She answered, “That’s what the producer said. He said we’re getting blowback on Twitter or something. I saw your face when I said it. I didn’t realize that I said it. I had twelve cups of coffee, I regret saying it.”
People hold posters picturing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and lightened candles during a gathering outside the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul, on October 25, 2018. (YASIN AKGUL/AFP/Getty Images)
Maher then complained that it’s a live show before verbalizing a disclaimer that no one on the panel actually wants to see Trump get physically harmed.
“I did not mean that, and I regret saying it,” Lebowitz stated, before adding that, “I regret that everyone misinterpreted that because they misinterpret everything.”
