Bill Maher is firing back at President Donald Trump after the president published a lengthy social media attack against the comedian following their recent White House dinner.
During the Oct. 30 episode of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” the comedian addressed Trump’s more than 1,300-word post on Truth Social, which followed their Oct. 15 dinner with sports commentator Stephen A. Smith and musician Kid Rock.
Maher poked fun at the length of the president’s message during his opening monologue.
“Did you see the 1,300-word tweet he sent out? Longest ever! Kind of a flex,” Maher said. “I tell you, dining at the White House is the opposite of the Cheesecake Factory: After you leave, they review you. He went off on me like Kelly Clarkson in a toy store.”
Holding printed copies of Trump’s post, Maher explained that the purpose of their dinner was to allow them to talk despite their political differences.
“The whole point” of the dinners, Maher said, was that he and Trump could disagree without hating each other.
“And then, I go back to my job here, and then, the heartaches begin,” he added.
Maher Responds to Trump’s Claims
Maher said he would not respond to every accusation in Trump’s post but addressed several statements that stood out to him.
The comedian took issue with the president telling him not to call again.
“I’ve never called you,” Maher said. “You call me! I’d be afraid to call you; you’re the president. I think you’re too busy. Well, plainly not.”
Maher also challenged Trump’s claim that he had invited himself to the White House.
“As if you could do that!” the comedian responded.
Another point of contention was Trump’s assertion that Maher had a seriously bruised eye and nose area.
“There are pictures of it – that you gave me!” Maher said. “I don’t have it. It’s in the pictures!”
Despite his criticism of the president’s post, Maher told his first guest of the evening, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, that he had tried to avoid escalating the dispute.
Cruz described Maher’s opening monologue as “funny as hell.” Maher, meanwhile, acknowledged that he could have been harsher in his response.
What Was in Trump’s Truth Social Post
Trump published his lengthy attack on Maher on Oct. 25, calling the comedian a “COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSER.”
The post came 10 days after their dinner at the White House, which also included Smith and Kid Rock.
Trump had initially described the gathering as “great.” However, Maher’s subsequent appearance on his HBO show appeared to set the stage for their public disagreement.
During his Oct. 23 monologue, Maher criticized Trump’s political standing ahead of the midterm elections, saying the president had a historically low approval rating among midterm candidates and that Republicans were distancing themselves from him.
Trump’s subsequent post marked a sharp change in tone from his earlier description of the dinner.
Maher’s Oct. 30 response highlighted the tension between the comedian’s stated goal of having conversations across political divides and the public criticism that followed their meeting.
Bill Maher Breaks Silence After Donald Trump’s Lengthy Post