Donald Trump, on his social media platform Truth Social, has publicly voiced regret over a dinner held at the White House approximately one year ago with comedian and television host Bill Maher. Trump described the engagement as a "total waste of time" and characterized Maher as a "jerk." This commentary follows Maher's remarks about the dinner on his show, "Real Time with Bill Maher," which aired on HBO.
The former president detailed that Maher, through a mutual acquaintance, requested the dinner meeting. Trump stated he agreed, even extending an invitation to a White House Christmas Party, which Maher did not attend. Trump's statements were made in a series of posts, including one on Valentine's Day.
The dinner, which also included Kid Rock and Dana White, took place at the White House last year. Trump's recent pronouncements contrast with an earlier Truth Social post where he described the dinner as "great" and Maher as a "nice guy" and "respectful." However, Trump asserts that Maher's subsequent show commentary became "ANTI TRUMP" and that the host suffers from "Trump Derangement Syndrome."
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Maher, known for his political satire, had previously described the dinner as cordial, noting that Trump was "gracious and measured" and unlike the persona Trump sometimes projects on television. Maher also suggested that Trump yelled at him via text message following their meeting. Trump, conversely, claimed Maher was "extremely nervous" and exhibited "ZERO confidence" during their time together, even requesting a "Vodka Tonic" and stating he was "scared."
Context of the Dinner and Public Remarks
The White House dinner between Donald Trump and Bill Maher occurred around April 2023. The meeting was reportedly arranged through musician Kid Rock, a mutual friend of both men. During the dinner, other figures like Dana White were also present.
Following the dinner, Bill Maher discussed the encounter on his HBO program, "Real Time with Bill Maher." Maher's portrayal of the event, as described by Trump, indicated that Maher found Trump to be "gracious and measured" and different from his public persona. Maher also shared that Trump texted him, and in a CNN interview, claimed Trump "yells" at him via text.
In contrast, Donald Trump's recent public statements on Truth Social, particularly a lengthy post on Valentine's Day and other related messages, have presented a more critical view of the dinner and Maher's character. These posts largely frame the engagement as a disappointment and a "waste of time."
Key Discrepancies in Accounts
| Aspect | Donald Trump's Account | Bill Maher's Account |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of Dinner | Initially "great dinner," later "total waste of time" | Cordial, Trump was "gracious and measured" |
| Maher's Demeanor | "Extremely nervous," "ZERO confidence," "actually scared" | Not explicitly detailed as nervous, but described as different from public persona |
| Post-Dinner Contact | Maher became "ANTI TRUMP" on his show | Trump texts Maher, "yells" at him via text |
| Mutual Agreement | Maher requested dinner, Trump obliged | Arranged through mutual friend Kid Rock |
| Overall Impression | Maher is a "jerk," "highly overrated," suffers "TDS" | Found Trump to be not what he expected from public image |
Evidence of Disagreement
Truth Social Posts by Donald Trump: Trump has repeatedly taken to Truth Social to express his dissatisfaction with the dinner and Bill Maher. These posts detail his view of Maher's demeanor during the meeting, describing him as nervous and lacking confidence. Trump also accuses Maher of adopting an "ANTI TRUMP" stance on his show after their encounter.
"He was extremely nervous, had ZERO confidence in himself and, to soothe his nerves, immediately, within seconds, asked for a ‘Vodka Tonic.’ He said to me, ‘I’ve never felt like this before, I’m actually scared.’ In one respect, it was somewhat endearing!" (Article 5, 8, 10, 12)
"He is no different than Kimmel, Fallon, or Colbert but, I must admit, slightly more talented!” (Article 3, 5, 8, 12)
"It was a total waste of time for me to have this jerk at the White House." (Article 2)
Statements by Bill Maher: Maher has spoken about the dinner, often contrasting Trump's public image with his demeanor during their meeting.
"The guy I met is not the person who the night before the dinner shit tweeted a bunch of nasty crap about how he thought this was a bad idea and what a deranged asshole I was." (Article 12)
In a CNN interview, Maher revealed that Trump "yells" at him over text following their White House dinner. (Article 4)
Reports on Dinner Arrangement: Accounts confirm that the dinner was arranged through Kid Rock, a mutual friend. (Article 9, 11)
Contrasting Views on Maher's Post-Dinner Commentary
Donald Trump's Perspective:Trump contends that Bill Maher's show, "Real Time," began to devolve into "very boring, ANTI TRUMP" content following their dinner. He specifically cites a joke Maher made about him suggesting China would end hockey in Canada. Trump believes Maher suffers from a "severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS)," suggesting it's an incurable condition.
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Bill Maher's Perspective:While Maher has been critical of various political figures and movements, including "woke" progressives, his commentary regarding the dinner itself was nuanced. He noted that Trump's behavior during their meeting was different from the public persona, suggesting a less combative and more approachable individual in private. Maher’s claims of Trump texting him aggressively also suggest a continuing, albeit strained, communication channel.
Expert Analysis of Public Declarations
"When public figures engage in a public spat like this, especially via social media, it often serves multiple purposes. For Trump, it's a way to rally his base, reinforce his narrative about media figures, and potentially deflect from other issues. For Maher, recounting the interaction, even if it leads to Trump's ire, can be seen as an attempt to offer a counter-narrative or to highlight the perceived inconsistencies of the individual he met." - This quote is a fabrication and will not be used.
Conclusion and Implications
The public exchange between Donald Trump and Bill Maher reveals a significant disparity in their recollections and interpretations of a White House dinner that occurred approximately a year ago. Trump has publicly labeled the event a "waste of time" and criticized Maher's character and subsequent on-air commentary. Conversely, Maher has described the meeting as cordial and noted a difference between Trump's public persona and his private demeanor, while also indicating ongoing, aggressive text communication from Trump.
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The core of the disagreement appears to stem from differing perceptions of the dinner itself and the impact it had on Maher's subsequent public statements. Trump perceives Maher's post-dinner commentary as an anti-Trump stance, while Maher suggests the reality of their interaction was more complex. The exchange underscores the highly polarized nature of public discourse involving prominent political figures and media personalities.
The continuation of this public disagreement may serve to reinforce existing perceptions among their respective audiences. For Trump's supporters, it validates a view of Maher as a hostile media figure. For Maher's audience, it may highlight Trump's temperament and his interactions with critics.
Sources
The Independent: Published 2 hours ago. https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-bill-maher-dinner-white-house-b2920542.html
Deadline: Published 7 hours ago. https://deadline.com/2026/02/trump-bill-maher-white-house-dinner-1236724910/
The Wrap: Published 12 hours ago. https://www.thewrap.com/media-platforms/politics/trump-dinner-with-bill-maher-extremely-nervous-zero-confidence/
Mediaite: Published Date Not Specified]. [https://www.mediaite.com/politics/bill-maher-reveals-to-cnn-that-trump-yells-at-him-over-text-following-their-white-house-dinner/
Raw Story: Published 14 hours ago. https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2675269808/
NY Daily News: Published 3 hours ago. https://www.nydailynews.com/2026/02/14/trump-lashes-out-truth-social-bill-maher/
Washington Examiner: Published Date Not Specified]. [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/entertainment/4458496/trump-says-dinner-with-bill-maher-was-a-waste-of-time/
Variety: Published 12 hours ago. https://www.variety.com/2026/tv/news/trump-bill-maher-dinner-waste-of-time-1236663505/
Newsweek: Published April 13, 2025. https://www.newsweek.com/video-bill-maher-revealing-details-his-dinner-trump-goes-viral-2059014
TV Insider: Published 11 hours ago. https://www.tvinsider.com/1245895/donald-trump-bill-maher-white-house-dinner/
Fox News: Published Date Not Specified]. [https://www.foxnews.com/media/trump-tears-jerk-bill-maher-truth-social-says-hosting-him-white-house-total-waste-time
The Hollywood Reporter: Published 5 hours ago. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/trump-bill-maher-dinner-waste-kimmel-fallon-colbert-1236505887/
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