Bill Maher, host of HBO's "Real Time," expressed his bewilderment at Donald Trump's newfound "cool" status during a recent panel discussion. Maher seemed almost incredulous, stating, "Here's how badly the Democrats messed up: Trump is cool now. At 78, he's not just incredibly powerful and wealthy, he's… cool!"

Maher highlighted Trump's appeal to unexpected demographics, mentioning rappers and athletes mimicking Trump's signature rally dance. He recounted mocking the former president, only to see Trump embrace the very things Maher ridiculed. "I used to make fun of him," Maher admitted, "and now he owns it!" He even quipped, "The Village People are gay for Trump now!"

California Democratic Representative Ro Khanna countered Maher's assessment, attributing Trump's enduring popularity to his long-standing celebrity status, referencing "The Apprentice" and various film and TV appearances. Maher retorted, "He was a joke!"

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith weighed in, suggesting Democrats were complicit in elevating Trump's celebrity. Smith argued that liberal elites embraced Trump until his presidential run. Khanna expressed his frustration, questioning the focus on celebrity over substance in presidential politics. "Do we have to have the celebrity president?" he asked. "Is it all about coolness? How about being cool as president actually meaning helping people?" Maher's response was simply, "That ship has sailed."

The discussion also touched upon the Democrats' perceived leftward shift, which Maher and Smith argued contributed to Trump's second term. Smith pointed to Trump's two impeachments and 34 felony convictions, noting, "The American people still said he's closer to normal than what we see on the left." Maher concurred. Smith continued, arguing the Democratic Party's focus on niche issues, like those pertaining to the transgender community, alienated a broader segment of the population.