"Bill Maher Shares Insights on Trump's 'Gracious and Measured' Persona During White House Meeting"

Bill Maher Reflects on Surprising White House Meeting with Trump

Real Time host Bill Maher opened up on Friday about his unexpected meeting with former President Donald Trump at the White House last week, describing the encounter as surprisingly cordial and humorous.

“You can hate me for it, but I’m not a liar—Trump was gracious and measured,” Maher said. “Why that doesn’t come through in other settings, I can’t explain. I’m just telling you what I saw—and I wasn’t high.”

Maher poked fun at critics who exaggerated the significance of the meeting, joking that it wasn’t “some kind of summit” arranged by their mutual acquaintance Kid Rock. “I have no power,” Maher added. “I’m a f---ing comedian. He’s the most powerful leader in the world.”

He even shared a printout of past insults Trump had directed at him over the years—Trump signed it with humor during the visit.

“I know millions of liberal sphincters just tightened—‘Oh my God, Bill, are you saying something nice about him?’” Maher said. “No, I’m just reporting exactly what happened. I didn’t go MAGA. And to Trump’s credit, there was no pressure to.”

One of the biggest surprises for Maher? Trump laughs—at himself, too. “And it’s not fake. Believe me, I’ve been a comedian for 40 years. I know a fake laugh.”

He also said Trump seemed more self-aware than he lets on publicly. When Maher mentioned Trump’s rare admission of losing the 2020 election, Trump didn’t get angry. “It doesn’t matter who he is at a private dinner. It matters who he is on the world stage,” Maher said. “But on this night, everything I’ve ever disliked about him was absent.”

Maher contrasted Trump with many high-profile figures he’s met, saying Trump was fully engaged and often asked for Maher’s opinions: “He mostly steered the conversation to ‘What do you think about this?’ I know—your mind is blown. So is mine.”

“A crazy person doesn’t live in the White House,” Maher added. “A person who plays a crazy person on TV lives there. It’s messed up, just not as messed up as I thought.”

Despite the civil dinner, Maher emphasized that he plans to continue criticizing Trump’s actions—like the trade war, governing by decree, and undermining democratic institutions. “I don’t have a good feeling and will still be critical. But I think he understands I have a job to do.”

Trump even mentioned Maher’s recent show: “He said, ‘I thought maybe you’d be nice, but you hit me really hard.’ I did. Because I’m not going to hold back when presidents float third terms.”

Maher left the dinner with nothing but some hats, time, and a willingness from Trump to talk—despite ideological differences. His favorite moment? When they both noted how many people appreciated their meeting and how they agreed they didn’t care for those who wished it hadn’t happened.

“Don’t talk? As opposed to what—writing the same editorial for the millionth time? Making 25-hour speeches into the wind?” Maher concluded, taking a jab at recent grandstanding by Senate Democrats. “He takes shots at everyone. And we’re supposed to pretend we can’t even talk to him?”