On Saturday morning, President Trump took to Truth Social to criticize comedian Bill Maher. Trump described their April 2025 dinner as a “total waste of time,” adding that Maher “is no different than Kimmel, Fallon, or Colbert,” though “slightly more talented.”
The comments appear to be a reaction to a joke Maher made the night before regarding Trump’s recent statements on U.S.-Canada negotiations.
Hockey Fight
Earlier on Friday, Trump posted on Truth Social that Canadian Prime Minister Carney was seeking a deal with China. Trump argued that any agreement between the two nations would be bad for the U.S., joking that “the first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup.”
Donald Trump sits down at an interview with Sean Hannity – YouTube, Fox News
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That evening on Real Time, Maher expressed confusion over the post. “Why would China destroy hockey?” he asked. Maher continued: “The immutable laws of democracy are when you get weaker politically, which he [Trump] is now, people do begin to stand up to you.”
In response Saturday, Trump said he was only joking about the Stanley Cup comment but accused Maher of overreacting. “He went on and on about the Hockey statement, like ‘What kind of a person would say such a foolish thing as this,’ as though I were being serious… Fortunately, his Television Ratings are so low that nobody will learn about his various Fake News statements about me.”
This exchange is notable given that tensions between Trump and Maher appeared to have cooled following their dinner last spring.
Dinner Diplomacy
After their April dinner, Maher described Trump as “gracious” and noted that the president laughs at himself. “I’ve never seen him laugh in public. But he does, including at himself. He’s not fake,” Maher said.
Bill Maher on Real Time With Bill Maher – YouTube, Real Time With Bill Maher
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Maher has more recently taken what some view as a centrist approach to politics. In July, he admitted he had misjudged the impact of Trump’s tariff policy on the U.S. economy. “The truth is, I don’t know what his strategy is, but look, the stock market is at record highs… I also drive around. I don’t see a country in a depression at all. I see people out there just living their lives. I would have thought — and I gotta own it — that these tariffs were going to f—–g sink this economy by this time, and they didn’t. How do we deal with that fact? Because that’s the fact.”
Unpredictable Exchanges
Ironically, in a video posted to YouTube Saturday morning, Maher told Elex Michaelson people who stopped watching his show after his dinner with Trump “are idiots.” He added that since their dinner Trump has sent him text messages saying that the comedian is still part of the “lunatic left.”
Rather than taking offense, Maher said he finds the back-and-forth engaging. “He watches. He gets it. Yeah. That I didn’t change, but you know what? It’s just better, because then I can say something back and it becomes a conversation and not just what it was.”
President Donald Trump speaks at CPAC in 2017 – YouTube, The New York Times
Fox News has reached out Maher in light of Trump’s Truth Social post, but has not received a response. While this exchange may appear at odds with their previously cordial interactions, it highlights the unusual yet persistent connection between the two: a mix of humor, critique, and mutual attention. Even amid jabs, neither seems likely to soften their on-screen personas, leaving audiences with an ongoing, unpredictable conversation that blends politics, comedy, and personal rivalry.
What do you think about Trump’s response? Did Maher go to far? Let us know in the comments!
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