Controversial HBO host Bill Maher is facing calls to quit after asking an ex-CIA black GOP congressman if he was collecting intelligence at 4am outside a Popeyes Chicken.

Maher, 63, was presenting Real Time on Friday night when he made the comment during a discussion with Will Hurd, a Republican congressman representing Texas’ 23rd District.

He asked Hurd, who is black, why he is a Republican to which Hurd, 41, replied: 'I’m a Republican because I believe in limited government.'

'I’m a Republican because I believe in the rule of law. I’m a Republican because I believe in economic opportunity.'

Maher interjected: 'They don’t do that. I’m just asking why you’re a Republican? Because they’re not good at the debt, that was their big thing. You said limited government, they don’t do that. They took over the Congress in 2011 and they raised the debt a trillion dollars a year.

'They’re not good at national defense—the president’s a traitor. What’s in it for you? What is in the Republican Party for you? You were in the CIA!'

Hurd replied: 'I was in the CIA for almost a decade. I was the dude in the back alleys at four o’clock in the morning collecting intelligence on threats to the homeland.'

To which Maher hit back: 'That’s where you’d collect it, huh? Wow. By the Popeyes Chicken?'

Controversial HBO host Bill Maher, right, asked ex-CIA GOP congressman Will Hurd if he was collecting intelligence at 4am outside a Popeyes Chicken on his show Friday night

Will Hurd, left, a Republican congressman representing Texas’ 23rd District, was questioned by Maher on Real Time. Maher, right, was accused of racism in 2017 after he was forced to apologize for calling himself a 'house n****' on his TV show

The response sparked outrage online where one person commentated: 'How many time is Bill Maher going to get a pass for his racist comments?'

Another added: 'Popeyes chicken to Will Hurd. Pathetic, the left never suffers consequences for blatant racism.'

Others posted sarcastic shocked memes, writing: 'Bill Maher said something racist again?'

It is not the first time Maher has been accused of racism after he was forced to apologize for calling himself a 'house n****' on his TV show, saying he got caught up in the 'banter of a live moment'.

The television host caused widespread outrage when he used the racial slur during an interview with Republican Senator Ben Sasse in 2017.

During the interview, Sasse invited the 61-year-old to his home state of Nebraska and joked about Maher joining him on the farming fields.

'We'd love to have you work in the fields with us,' Sasse said.

Maher hit back: 'Work in the fields? Senator, I'm a house n*****.'

The comment sparked outrage online with some calling it 'blatant racism'

Others asked 'how many times' the host would get a 'pass for his racist comments'

Sasse was the first to apologize following the show, saying he should have spoken up when Maher made the comments. Soon after, HBO issued a statement slamming the TV host's 'inexcusable and tasteless' comments.

But Maher was the last to apologize - almost 17 hours after his racial slur aired on TV.

DailyMail.com has contacted HBO. Maher is yet to comment on last night's incident.