Bill Maher stated that while some may “hate” him for his fresh viewpoint on President Donald Trump after their White House encounter, he maintains he’s “not a liar.”
In the latest episode of HBO’s Real Time, the host and long-time adversary of the president recounted his recent meeting with Trump and Kid Rock. Following this visit, Maher concluded that Trump was surprisingly “gracious and measured,” quite unlike the “crazy person” he portrays on television.
“First of all, let me say to everyone who treated this like a summit meeting, you’re being ridiculous. As if I was going to sign some treaty. I have no power,” Maher expressed. “I’m just a comedian, and he’s the world’s most powerful leader. I lead nothing, except perhaps a group of centrists who believe there must be a better way to govern this country than constantly hating each other.”
The comedian went on to explain how he had gathered a list of nearly 60 derogatory names Trump has used against him, which he humorously asked the president to sign. Trump complied “with good humor.”
Maher also mentioned that he would “report exactly what occurred” during his visit with the president, asserting, “You form your own opinion, and if that’s insufficient Trump disdain for you, I couldn’t care less.”
After sharing that Trump gifted him several MAGA hats, Maher remarked, “The individual I encountered is not the same person who tweeted a series of nasty remarks the night before about how I was a deranged asshole. I read it and thought, ‘What a nice way to greet someone at your home.’ But when I arrived, that persona was nowhere to be found.”
To illustrate, Maher expressed surprise at the fact that Trump actually laughs. “I’ve never seen him laugh publicly, but he does, even at his own expense, and it’s authentic. As a comedian with 40 years of experience, I can recognize a phony laugh,” he stated.
The host fondly recalled “an amazing tour of the entire house.” Although he couldn’t precisely recall the topics they discussed, he remembered Trump using the word “lost” in reference to the 2020 election. “I distinctly thought, ‘Wow, I never imagined you would say that.’ He didn’t get angry; he’s far more self-aware than he allows people to perceive publicly.”
Maher continued, “I’ve spoken with numerous prominent figures who are much less engaged, people who fail to make eye contact, people who are preoccupied with their next agenda item, whose responses don’t align with what you say. None of that was Trump. He predominantly directed the conversation to, ‘What are your thoughts on this?’ I realize that sounds shocking, but so is my own surprise.”
The comedian added that there were multiple moments when he could joke or challenge Trump without any issues.
Maher recounted correcting the president at one point when he “ tweeted the night before that I was critical of everything Trump.”
“That’s not true. Check the tapes,” Maher clarified. “I supported moving Israel’s embassy to Jerusalem. The border did need attention. I’m pleased that the police are regaining their morale. DEI had indeed gone too far. Biological men shouldn’t compete in women’s sports. Europe should bear the cost of its defense, and it does make sense for Arab nations to host Arab refugees like the millions of Syrians who ended up in Germany while Saudi Arabia took none.”
Maher reflected on how he “never felt the need to walk on eggshells” around Trump during the visit, adding, “Honestly, I supported [Bill] Clinton and [Barack] Obama, but I would never feel as at ease conversing with them as I did with Donald Trump. That’s simply how it unfolded; interpret it as you wish.”
He described the “most surreal part of the evening” as returning home and watching an episode of 60 Minutes from the previous night. “There’s Trump in one of their segments, standing at a podium in a setting resembling one of the rooms we had just visited, ranting, ‘Disgusting. You’re a terrible person,’ and I thought, ‘Who is that guy? What happened to Glinda the Good Witch? Why can’t we have the man I met be the public persona?’”
Maher stressed that he was “merely recounting what I witnessed over 2.5 hours” and discovered that “a crazy person doesn’t reside in the White House.” However, he noted, “A person who often plays a crazy character on television does live there, which I recognize is perplexing. It’s just not as bewildering as I initially believed.”
The comedian affirmed he would remain “critical of many of his actions,” but acknowledged that his viewpoint on Trump altered after the visit.
“You can disdain me for this, but I am not a liar,” Maher asserted. “Trump was gracious and measured, and why he doesn’t act this way in other settings is beyond me and not my place to determine. I’m merely relaying what I observed, and I wasn’t under the influence.”
He concluded, “So, MAGA supporters, rest assured, your guy offered me nothing except hats and a generous amount of time, along with a willingness to engage, treating me as a potential friend, even though I’m not MAGA, which is precisely the point of the dinner.”
