Comedian Bill Maher responded directly on his Friday night television program to a lengthy online statement from former President Donald Trump, who accused the talk show host of appearing drunk and nervous during their meetings at the White House.
The exchange stems from a second dinner Maher attended at the White House with Trump and musician Kid Rock on October 15. On October 25, Trump published a 1,300-word post on his Truth Social platform, detailing his impressions of their meetings and criticizing Maher’s behavior and political views.
Holding up a printed copy of the post during an episode of HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher,” the host addressed the fallout from their shared meals with characteristic humor.
“Eating with Trump is like dating Taylor Swift: a lot of laughs at the time, but later on they’re tearing you a new asshole,” Maher said.
In his online remarks, Trump labeled the comedian “this COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSER.”
“You got me there. I’ll own that one,” Maher said on the broadcast.
Trump also wrote that while he rarely watches Maher’s show, “it always ends with dishonesty, about me at least, but, who cares?”
“Yeah, ‘who cares?’ Three pages of ‘who cares,'” Maher retorted.
Trump alleged in the post that Maher “invited himself to the White House” after one of his agents phoned “incessantly” to arrange the meetings.
Maher denied initiating contact, telling viewers that the administration reached out first. “I’ve never called you. You called me! I’d be afraid to call you. You’re the president. I think you’re too busy,” Maher said, gesturing toward the printed post. “Well, plainly not.”
Trump’s post also touched on foreign policy, claiming that Maher “doesn’t think it was a good thing to take the Nuclear Weapon [sic] away from Iran, which shows you that he is not very smart.”
Maher dismissed that characterization, stating he was actually “one of the few people on the ‘lunatic Left’ who’s glad you hit Iran.”
Referencing an earlier dinner in March 2025, Trump wrote that Maher appeared “very nervous” and “very insecure.” He further claimed that Maher had requested a drink and arrived with a “seriously bruised eye and nose area, as though somebody had just beaten him up , But it wasn’t me!”
Maher rejected the claim regarding facial injuries, presenting photographs from the event that he stated White House staff had sent him following the dinner.
Regarding the October meal, Trump wrote that Maher “looked like hell” and described him as “drunk and had alcohol in his hand.” Maher acknowledged having a drink, noting it was one “that you gave me.”
Trump also characterized the television host as a “major POTHEAD [sic]” who should quit for the sake of his health.
“Well, I guess the cat’s out of the bag now, huh? Boy, that explains a lot,” Maher answered. “I thought I was just happy.”
Despite his criticisms, Trump acknowledged in the post that he initially believed the visits had gone well.
“After the first dinner, Bill Maher was friendly, I guess; everyone walked away pleased,” Trump wrote. “He gave me a good first show, with lots of Laughing Machine [sic] laughter, which is a real term, but it is what it is, and then reverted back to his former self, and his old ways.”
Trump added that he did not take the coverage personally, describing Maher as someone who “has to cater to his base, which is mostly composed of losers and people who don’t like working.” He claimed that following the October meal, Maher’s program “was far worse than the first. He went crazy! He’s gutless, because he enjoyed every minute.”
Neither the White House nor HBO immediately responded to requests for comment.
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