President Donald Trump and comedian Bill Maher have been longtime frenemies who have been engaged in an on-again, off-again feud that has lasted years.
The rivalry between the two men took center stage before Trump, 80, became president. Maher, 70, regularly made the MAGA leader a target of his comedy bits, which fueled the animosity.
In 2013, Maher mocked Trump, then a regular presence on Fox News, for his repeated efforts to cast doubt on President Barack Obama’s birthplace and citizenship.
Maher’s wisecracks about the so-called birtherism conspiracy eventually led to a courtroom battle. Trump sued Maher over a punchline about his ancestry. Trump later withdrew the lawsuit, asking a court to dismiss it without prejudice.
After his return to the presidency for his second term in 2025, Trump offered Maher an olive branch by having dinner with him at the White House.
That truce was short-lived. Trump and Maher began slamming each other once again. However, a second dinner on Oct. 15 seemed to be a sign of another reconciliation.
Maher was joined by fellow Trump frenemy, ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith. MAGA-loving recording artist Kid Rock was present for the social gathering in Washington, D.C., too.
Like with the first meet-up, the second White House feast only ended hostilities between the ex-reality television star and the late-night host for a brief spell.
Maher received significant scrutiny for dining with the divisive president on both occasions. He addressed the backlash on the latest edition of his “Real Time” show.
“Yeah, I did it again, b—–,” Maher told his audience. The self-described liberal commentator also said, “F— you, I like these dinners.” The live crowd cheered loudly.
Maher went on to offer more insight into the alleged four-hour dinner, sharing the long list of grievances he supposedly told Trump. He also praised the president’s hospitality.
Plus, Maher spoke with Trump’s former press secretary Karoline Leavitt on the program. Their friendly conversation provided more positive spin for the embattled administration.
Despite defending his controversial decision to meet with the deeply unpopular Trump and giving his surrogate a softball interview, Maher still faced the wrath of an angered POTUS.
That same “Real Time” monologue with the White House dinner recap also featured Maher making fun of Trump. The jokes apparently irritated the president.
On Oct. 25, Trump posted a 1,323-word rant on Truth Social slamming Maher. The diatribe opened with a direct shot that read, “Let’s talk about this COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSER.”
The president claimed Maher “lies about everything” and called the stand-up comic’s fans “losers.” In addition, Trump insisted the dinner lasted for two hours, not four.
Maher’s guest did receive kudos from her former boss.
Trump wrote, “Karoline Leavitt was GREAT on the show, but she started with a biased, dumb SLEAZEBAG, asking questions.”
“Bill: Don’t call anymore,” Trump demanded. The commander in chief then threatened he would order other Republicans not to associate with Maher, before exclaiming, “You’re a loser!’
Trump’s meltdown sent shock waves across social media. Many of the responses showed little sympathy for Maher being vigorously rebuked by his rival-turned-friend-turned-rival.
“Lol. And Bill Maher just came out and defended that dinner,” someone on X pointed out. A second person posted, “Hope Bill at least got a good meal after debasing himself.”
Another mocking tweet stated, “Awww, @billmaher, I thought he was your bud. You know, dinners together. Do you need a hug?”
“Is that real? Lol. Maher was glazing Trump after that dinner and gushed over his guest, [Karoline Leavitt],” asked a shocked individual.
Trump did not escape the negative feedback. For instance, one person responded to his drawn-out Truth Social clapback by tweeting, “This is really weird. The man isn’t well.”
A like-minded poster wondered, “Is Bill Maher a big enough deal to ever have a meltdown over? Trump is seriously ill.”
“He is a repulsive, whiny narcissistic baby,” expressed a Trump critic.
Furthermore, sports journalist Jemele Hill wrote, “This is what all that glazing gets you. Embarrassing for all involved.”
What happens in the next chapter of the Donald Trump versus Bill Maher war of words? Going by their past combative relationship, it would not be surprising if a future ceasefire eventually leads to more hostility.
