Donald Trump shared a detailed reflection on his past dinner with Bill Maher on Truth Social over the weekend, branding the encounter a “total waste of time.” The former president characterized Maher, host of HBO’s “Real Time,” as similar to other late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, asserting they all present a liberal bias.
In his lengthy post, Trump recounted that Maher came to the White House feeling nervous and lacking confidence, immediately requesting a vodka tonic to calm his nerves. “I’ve never felt like this before, I’m actually scared,” Maher reportedly told Trump, which the former president found somewhat endearing at the moment. Trump described their dinner as quick and pleasant, noting Maher’s respectful demeanor in the immediate aftermath. However, Trump felt that the meeting was ultimately unproductive, especially as Maher later ridiculed Trump’s comments about a hypothetical trade deal with China that he claimed would “terminate ALL Ice Hockey” in Canada.
Following Maher’s mockery of Trump’s statement, the former president escalated his criticisms, branding Maher a “highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT” and downplaying the significance of his ratings. Trump expressed that Maher is no different from other comedians in late-night TV, while acknowledging him as slightly more talented. He emphasized that Maher’s attempts to portray the left as open to conservatives are misdirected, stating, “Our Base, the Greatest of All Time, laughs at your weakness when you do it.”
In a contrast to Trump’s view, Maher previously shared a more favorable assessment of their dinner in 2025, describing Trump as “gracious” and surprisingly self-aware. He remarked that the man he met was different from the public persona Trump often projects, noting moments of authenticity, including laughter.
The interaction between Trump and Maher highlights the complexities of political discourse in entertainment, where humor and political beliefs often collide. As Trump continues to rally his supporters with his narratives, the ongoing dialogue with figures like Maher exemplifies the enduring battleground of ideas in American society.