![Bill Maher Sets Trump-Obama Trap, Adam Schiff Walks Right Into It [WATCH]](https://teamredvictory.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bill-Maher-Sets-Trump-Obama-Trap-Adam-Schiff-Walks-Right-Into.jpg)
Schifty humiliates himself on Real Time…
Comedian and HBO host Bill Maher pulled a rhetorical ambush on Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) during a debate over President Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran, prompting the senator to unintentionally criticize a key legal argument once used by the Obama Administration.
During Friday night’s episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, the host read a statement defending presidential authority to launch military action without congressional approval.
…but did not initially reveal who said it.
“This statement from the administration: ‘The president had the constitutional authority to direct the use of military force because he could reasonably determine that such use of force was in the national interest,’” Maher said. “That’s too vague for you?”
Schiff — who has strongly criticized Trump’s decision to authorize the joint U.S.–Israeli strike on Iran without prior congressional approval — responded immediately.
“Totally vague,” the senator said.
“OK. Because that’s from Obama about Libya,” Maher said.
The remark referred to the 2011 U.S. intervention in Libya, when the Obama administration argued the president had authority to conduct military operations because they served U.S. national interests.
Schiff, stumbling over himself, attempted to clarify his position after the reveal, pointing to a later debate during the Obama presidency over potential strikes in Syria.
“Well, Obama made the argument, um, initially that he could go into Syria without an authorization,” Schiff said, gathering his thoughts. “I and many others pushed back on that argument.”
Schiff noted that Obama ultimately decided not to pursue military action against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad after concerns that Congress might reject the move.
“Ultimately, he did not go forward with going after Assad — even though Assad was gassing his own people — because he thought he might lose the vote in Congress,” Schiff said. “But I respect the fact that, uh, that was important to [Obama], and the fact that he did not have the support of Congress meant that we weren’t going to go forward.”
Maher: “The president had the constitutional authority to direct the use of military force because he could reasonably determine that such use of force was in the national interest.”
Schiff: “Totally vague.”
Maher: “…that’s from Obama about Libya.”pic.twitter.com/mXfqkTqmj4
— Brandon Straka #WalkAway (@BrandonStraka) March 8, 2026
The exchange came amid escalating political debate over President Trump’s decision to authorize joint U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran, which reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior regime officials.
Schiff said earlier this week he plans to force a congressional vote aimed at limiting the president’s authority to conduct further military operations against Iran.
“There was no imminent threat to justify starting a war with Iran,” Schiff said. “Instead, Donald Trump chose the path of more chaos — with American lives on the line. I’m joining my colleagues in forcing a vote to stop the president from abusing his power.”
There was no imminent threat to justify starting a war with Iran.
Instead, Donald Trump chose the path of more chaos — with American lives on the line.
I’m joining my colleagues in forcing a vote to stop the president from abusing his power. pic.twitter.com/OIC24ERAna
— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) March 2, 2026
