Comedian Bill Maher criticized Democrats for allowing President Donald Trump's popularity to rise following his first week in office.

Trump is cool now," Maher said on Real Time with Bill Maher. "He's not just the most powerful guy in the world and just made himself like the richest, he's actually kind of [cool] at 78!"

Maher pointed to rappers and athletes sharing their liking of the new president. Nelly, Rick Ross, and Snoop Dogg all performed at inaugural events, in addition to the Village People.

"I mean, rappers like him, the athletes are doing..." Maher added as he gestured Trump's well-known rally dance.

"I was making fun of him, jing off two guys at one time, and now he owns it. And now they're doing it!" Maher said.

"I mean, the Village People are gay for Trump now!" he added.

Democratic California Rep. Ro Khanna pushed back, noting that Trump has "always been a celebrity." Trump became well-known after his many appearances in New York tabloids and as host of The Apprentice on NBC. He also made cameos in films and on TV.

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith said Democrats should bear the blame for Trump's celebrity as liberal stars "all loved him until he ran for office."

"You know what would be nice in this country?... Do we have to have the celebrity president?" Khanna asked on the Friday show. "I mean, is it all about coolness? How about being cool as president is actually about helping people?"

"That horse has left the barn," said Maher.

Smith and Maher criticized Democrats for moving too far to the left, allowing Trump to win back the White House.

"The man was impeached twice. He was convicted on 34 felony counts, and the American people still said he's closer to normal than what we see on the left," Smith argued.

"Why? Because something that pertains when you talk about the transgender community, for example, you talk about the issues that pertain to less than 1 percent of the population, the Democratic Party came across as if that was a priority more so than the other issues," he added.