Comedian Bill Maher responded directly to former President Donald Trump on his Friday night television program, pushing back against a lengthy online post in which Trump accused the talk show host of appearing drunk and nervous during their White House dinners.
The dispute stems from a second dinner Maher attended at the White House on October 15, joined by Trump and musician Kid Rock. On October 25, Trump published a 1,300-word post on his Truth Social platform, detailing his impressions of their meetings and offering sharp criticism of 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 post, Trump referred to Maher as “this COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSER.”
“You got me there. I’ll own that one,” Maher responded on air.
Trump also wrote that although he rarely watches Maher’s program, “it always ends with dishonesty, about me at least, but, who cares?”
“Yeah, ‘who cares?’ Three pages of ‘who cares,'” Maher replied.
Trump further alleged that Maher “invited himself to the White House” after one of his agents called “incessantly” to arrange the meetings. Maher denied initiating contact, telling his audience 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 before adding, “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 away from Iran, which shows you that he is not very smart.” Maher dismissed the characterization, stating he was actually “one of the few people on the ‘lunatic Left’ who’s glad you hit Iran.”
Referencing their first dinner in March 2025, Trump described Maher as appearing “very nervous” and “very insecure.” He also claimed Maher requested a drink upon arrival and showed up 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 about facial injuries entirely, displaying photographs from the event that he said White House staff had sent him following the dinner.
Regarding the October meeting, Trump wrote that Maher “looked like hell” and appeared “drunk” with “alcohol in his hand.” Maher acknowledged holding a drink but noted it was one “that you gave me.”
Trump also described the television host as a “major POTHEAD” and suggested he quit for the benefit of his health.
“Well, I guess the cat’s out of the bag now, huh? Boy, that explains a lot,” Maher responded. “I thought I was just happy.”
Despite his criticisms, Trump acknowledged in the post that he initially viewed the visits favorably.
“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 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 dinner, 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 responded immediately to requests for comment.
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