By Charles Switzer
8:32am PDT, Apr 12, 2025
Bill Maher Talks White House Meeting with Trump
Bill Maher, the host of
Real Time, shared his unexpected experience from a recent meeting with President
Donald Trump at the White House during the Friday, April 11, installment of his HBO series.
Describing Trump as "gracious and measured," Maher expressed his surprise, stating, "You can h*** me for it, but I'm not a liar. Trump was gracious and measured."
He further clarified, "And why isn't that in other settings — I don't know, and I can't answer and it's not my place to answer. I'm just telling you what I saw, and I wasn't high."
Here are four key takeaways from the comic's unexpected presidential sit-down.
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Maher's Mockery of Summit Talk and Kid Rock Rumor
Bill Maher didn't hold back when addressing the portrayal of his visit as some sort of summit, mocking those who viewed the encounter as a major political moment.
"I have no power. I'm a f****** comedian, and he's the most powerful leader in the world!" Maher exclaimed.
He also poked fun at the idea of
Kid Rock playing a role in facilitating the meeting, calling those who made such claims "ridiculous."
Maher then shared a printout of Donald Trump's past insults toward him, which Trump had signed "with good humor."
Trump's Humor and Self-Awareness
The HBO host was taken aback by Donald Trump's ability to laugh and show self-awareness, especially in a private setting.
"He does, including at himself," Bill Maher said, reflecting on Trump's genuine laughter. He emphasized that he could tell it was authentic, adding, "And it's not fake. Believe me, as a comedian of 40 years, I know a fake laugh when I hear it."
According to Maher, Trump also demonstrated a level of self-awareness, especially when the topic of the
2020 election came up.
Maher recalled how Trump did not become upset when he mentioned Trump's rare admission of losing the election, noting, "Look, I get it. It doesn't matter who he is at a private dinner with a comedian. It matters who he is on the world stage. I'm just taking as a positive that this person exists. Because everything I've ever not liked about him was, I swear to God, absent at least on this night with this guy."
Open Conversations with Trump
Bill Maher remarked on how the private conversation with Donald Trump differed from his interactions with other prominent figures. "I've had so many conversations with prominent people who are much less connected, people who don't look you in the eye, people don't really listen because they just want to get to their next thing… None of that was him," Maher said.
He added that Trump led much of the discussion, asking, "What do you think about this?" Maher said he felt no pressure to censor himself, explaining, "I never felt I had to walk on eggshells around him."
Despite his political differences, Maher reflected, "Honestly, I voted for
Clinton and
Obama, but I would never feel comfortable talking to them the way I was able to talk with Donald Trump."
Maher Reflects on the Meeting's Aftermath
The most surreal part of Bill Maher's experience came when he saw Donald Trump on television later that evening, ranting on
60 Minutes. Maher humorously remarked, "And I'm like, 'Who's that guy? What happened to Glinda the Good Witch?'" Maher contrasted his personal interaction with the public image of Trump, noting, "A crazy person doesn't live in the White House, a person who plays a crazy person on TV a lot lives there."
Maher concluded by reflecting on the purpose of the meeting, expressing that while he disagreed with Trump politically, the dinner highlighted their shared belief in the importance of conversation despite differing views.
"Don't talk, as opposed to what? Writing the same editorial for the millionth time and making 25-hour speeches into the wind. Really, that's what liberals have? He takes the p*** out of everybody else, and we can hold ours?" highlighting Sen.
Cory Booker's recent hours-long floor speech in the Senate chamber.
