Longtime Trump Critic Bill Maher Surprised by ‘Gracious’ Dinner with President

Bill Maher, a well-known liberal commentator and longtime critic of Donald Trump, is making headlines for a different reason this week—his unexpectedly cordial dinner with the former president.

During Friday’s episode of Real Time, Maher revealed that he recently shared a private dinner with Trump, UFC President Dana White, and musician Kid Rock. What stood out to him wasn’t just the company—but Trump’s tone.

“You can hate me for it, but I’m not a liar,” Maher told his audience. “Trump was gracious and measured. And why isn’t that in other settings? I don’t know… I’m just telling you what I saw, and I wasn’t high.”

For someone who’s consistently challenged Trump’s politics and persona, Maher’s account came as a surprise—not just to viewers, but to his panel guests as well.

Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin responded critically, suggesting Maher may have “fallen into the trap” of conflating access with authenticity.

“I think you’ve played the game of proximity is principle,” Rogin said, questioning Trump’s motivations for the meeting.

Maher stood firm, emphasizing that he was simply offering an honest retelling of his experience—one that challenged his own expectations.

“Trump was willing to listen and accept me as a possible friend, even though I’m not MAGA,” Maher said, adding that he felt the former president showed a level of openness not often seen publicly.