‘They Were The Party Of Slavery’: Maher Says Democrats Had Bad Roots While Defending Italian Prime Minister

Comedian and podcast host Bill Maher defended Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his latest episode of “Club Random,” arguing she’s not a fascist any more than modern Democrats support slavery.

The duo were discussing the recent rise in the use of “far-right” to describe conservatives, with Maher bringing up the new Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

When she was elected, critics labeled Meloni far-right for her stance opposing adoption by same-sex couples and for putting forth pro-life policies. She has also promised to defend Italy’s borders against illegal immigrants.

“The papers were apoplectic,” Maher said. “‘Fascism has come back.'” (RELATED: Listen To The New Italian PM For Two Minutes, And You’ll See Exactly Why They’re All Freaking Out)

Maher said while he doesn’t follow Italian politics closely, he read some of Meloni’s statements and didn’t think she sounded like a fascist.

“It sounds like things that we’ve heard people in this country, on the right, you know, it’s a lot about ‘We need to not forgot our roots and traditional stuff like family.’ And I understand why there’s a backlash to some of the shit that’s going on. It wasn’t particularly right. It was like, ‘I’m a mother and I’m proud to be a mother.'”

“It’s not fighting words. And also I wanted to make the point because they kept saying, ‘Well, her party has fascist roots.’ So did the Democrats. They were the party of slavery, okay, and Jim Crow, and they outgrew it,” Maher continued.

“So to put that on her that, you know, the roots. Yes, all our parties have roots. We all grow from corrupt places, and now I see she’s invited to the White House. And again, I don’t know who this broad is. I’m not defending her. I’m just saying the immediate hair trigger, ‘Oh my God, the world has ended. Italy has elected a fascist.’ It’s just the kind of thing that makes me go, ‘I don’t trust you in the media. I just don’t trust you.'”

Maher then alleged those who pushed that narrative appeared to have engaged in “advocacy journalism.”