The sketch in question aired in February and featured actor Tom Hanks wearing a MAGA hat and refusing to shake hands with a Black character played by Kenan Thompson. The scene resurfaced during Maher's conversation with guest Jillian Michaels on his Club Random podcast.

"I hated it — wearing the MAGA hat, not shaking hands with a Black person," Maher said. "You people don't know MAGA people." While acknowledging that racism exists, Maher argued that most Trump supporters he knows are not racist. "Generally, all the MAGA people I know have no problem shaking hands with a Black person," he said.

Maher accused SNL of pushing what he called a “zombie lie” — a falsehood that refuses to die. "You're just hysterical and you're not helping," he added. "Don't lie to me. It's a lie, that MAGA people won't shake hands with [Black Americans]. I get it, it's comedy, an exaggeration — but it's too delicate a subject."