Trump says dinner with 'jerk' Bill Maher was a 'total waste of time'
- - Trump says dinner with 'jerk' Bill Maher was a 'total waste of time'
Brendan Morrow, USA TODAYFebruary 15, 2026 at 11:07 PM
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Nearly a year later, President Donald Trump says his dinner with Bill Maher was not a good use of time.
In an almost 500-word post on Truth Social Feb. 14, Trump slammed the "Real Time With Bill Maher" host as a "highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT" after meeting with him at the White House early last year.
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Maher for comment.
Maher received criticism from some of his liberal viewers in April 2025 after he had dinner with Trump and subsequently said on his HBO show that it was a positive experience. Trump, though, wrote on Truth Social that it was a "total waste of time for me to have this jerk at the White House."
In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump described his 2025 dinner with comedian Bill Maher as a "total waste of time."
Trump's post appeared to have been inspired by the way Maher covered a statement of his from earlier in the week. On the latest "Real Time" on Feb. 13, Maher mockingly read a Feb. 9 Truth Social post where Trump discussed a potential trade deal between Canada and China, claiming that China would "terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup." Maher expressed bewilderment with Trump's statement, asking on his HBO show, "Why would China destroy hockey?"
Bill Maher resurrects feud with Larry David sparked by Trump meeting
In his Feb. 14 post on Truth Social, Trump shot back that he was not "being serious" when he made this statement about hockey and concluded that Maher is "no different" than the other late-night hosts he has frequently attacked, including Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert.
Trump also claimed Maher was "extremely nervous" and "had ZERO confidence in himself" when they met, adding that although they had a "great dinner" and Maher "seemed to be a nice guy," his show has since been "very boring" and "ANTI TRUMP."
Kid Rock, a vocal supporter of Trump, set up the dinner between Maher and Trump at the White House in 2025. Afterward, the comedian said on his show that Trump was much different in person than he expected, telling viewers the president is self-aware and has a good sense of humor.
Bill Maher spoke positively about his meeting with President Donald Trump during an April 2025 monologue on "Real Time."
"Look, I get it. It doesn't matter who he is at a private dinner with a comedian," Maher said. "It matters who he is on the world stage. I'm just taking it as a positive that this person exists, because everything I've ever not liked about him was, I swear to God, absent, at least on this night with this guy."
He added, "I never felt I had to walk on eggshells around him, and honestly? I voted for Clinton and Obama but I would never feel comfortable talking to them the way I was able to talk with Donald Trump. That's just how it went down. Make of it what you will."
Read the transcript: Bill Maher's full monologue on his Donald Trump meeting
Maher also defended his decision to meet with Trump in the first place, despite being a frequent critic of the president's. He said he is part of a "contingent of centrist-minded people who think there's got to be a better way of running this country than hating each other every minute."
resume production after it was pulled off the air Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!", will resume production after it was pulled off the air Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Fys_.hr.KhMxzUjxCdclTw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MjU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b99fcada615c931719928dd506a3248a class=caas-img data-headline="Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, see late-night hosts who have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!", will resume production after it was pulled off the air Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
">Comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!", will resume production after it was pulled off the air Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Fys_.hr.KhMxzUjxCdclTw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MjU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b99fcada615c931719928dd506a3248a class=caas-img>Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>In 2016, Jimmy Fallon interviewed Trump ahead of the election, ruffling the then-candidate's signature orange hair. After the interview received backlash, Fallon said he regretted parts of the interview. In response, Trump took to social media to criticize the "Tonight Show" host, writing: "@jimmyfallon is now whimpering to all that he did the famous 'hair show' with me (where he seriously messed up my hair), & that he would have now done it differently because it is said to have 'humanized' me-he is taking heat. He called & said 'monster ratings.' Be a man Jimmy!" Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/OD3fgLWfwBXYVODaPArb6Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/9f2567fe7df19ccdb66a36a6fe536600 class=caas-img data-headline="Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, see late-night hosts who have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
In 2016, Jimmy Fallon interviewed Trump ahead of the election, ruffling the then-candidate's signature orange hair. After the interview received backlash, Fallon said he regretted parts of the interview. In response, Trump took to social media to criticize the "Tonight Show" host, writing: "@jimmyfallon is now whimpering to all that he did the famous 'hair show' with me (where he seriously messed up my hair), & that he would have now done it differently because it is said to have 'humanized' me-he is taking heat. He called & said 'monster ratings.' Be a man Jimmy!" Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
">In 2016, Jimmy Fallon interviewed Trump ahead of the election, ruffling the then-candidate's signature orange hair. After the interview received backlash, Fallon said he regretted parts of the interview. In response, Trump took to social media to criticize the "Tonight Show" host, writing: "@jimmyfallon is now whimpering to all that he did the famous 'hair show' with me (where he seriously messed up my hair), & that he would have now done it differently because it is said to have 'humanized' me-he is taking heat. He called & said 'monster ratings.' Be a man Jimmy!" Fallon is pictured here at the Met Gala on May 5, 2025, in New York City.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/OD3fgLWfwBXYVODaPArb6Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/9f2567fe7df19ccdb66a36a6fe536600 class=caas-img>In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart has a history of heated exchanges with Trump. In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/FzFzcy_kAXK18g1DMb7bUw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a7787c461510dfe3e4ac81df787a7fdf class=caas-img data-headline="Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, see late-night hosts who have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart has a history of heated exchanges with Trump. In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
">"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart has a history of heated exchanges with Trump. In 2013, Trump tweeted, "I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated." Stewart is a sharp critic of Trump, often taking aim at the political movement he has created.Here, Stewart is pictured at "The Daily Show" official Emmy Screening on June 7, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/FzFzcy_kAXK18g1DMb7bUw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/a7787c461510dfe3e4ac81df787a7fdf class=caas-img>Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said ‘NO THANKS’ Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>John Oliver, a "Daily Show" alum who now hosts “Last Week Tonight” is also a frequent Trump critic, and feuded publicly with the president over a potential show appearance in 2015. Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said ‘NO THANKS’ Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/br78tzy0ST6OZsz8ldnY9w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f5d81f0a912d9fb5c8131f7d76664a88 class=caas-img data-headline="Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, see late-night hosts who have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
John Oliver, a "Daily Show" alum who now hosts “Last Week Tonight” is also a frequent Trump critic, and feuded publicly with the president over a potential show appearance in 2015. Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said ‘NO THANKS’ Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
">John Oliver, a "Daily Show" alum who now hosts “Last Week Tonight” is also a frequent Trump critic, and feuded publicly with the president over a potential show appearance in 2015. Oliver said he wasn't interested in having Trump on his show, which Trump responded to on X, writing: "John Oliver had his people call to ask me to be on his very boring and low-rated show, I said ‘NO THANKS’ Waste of time & energy!" Oliver refuted that report. Here, Oliver is pictured in at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/br78tzy0ST6OZsz8ldnY9w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f5d81f0a912d9fb5c8131f7d76664a88 class=caas-img>"I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>When CBS announced the network was terminating “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” after the 2025-2026 season, Trump took to social media to celebrate. "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/GuWHrLEBpl3enxbdL3Qj7w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/bc29a33065546216b51047533665629f class=caas-img data-headline="Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, see late-night hosts who have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
When CBS announced the network was terminating “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” after the 2025-2026 season, Trump took to social media to celebrate. "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
">When CBS announced the network was terminating “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” after the 2025-2026 season, Trump took to social media to celebrate. "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, his talent was even less than his ratings," the president wrote. Among his late-night peers, Colbert was among Trump's sharpest critics. Colbert is pictured here at Apple TV+'s Primetime Emmy party red carpet on Sept. 14, 2025, in West Hollywood.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/GuWHrLEBpl3enxbdL3Qj7w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/bc29a33065546216b51047533665629f class=caas-img>The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's “The Howard Stern Show” on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Seth Meyers, the host of "Late Night" on NBC is a frequent critic of Trump and his administration.The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's “The Howard Stern Show” on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/STqpo49YN8HtgkWoxkQqHg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNTg2/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/1161a9de81ca882af7c44505e46efb6a class=caas-img data-headline="Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, see late-night hosts who have beefed with President Trump" data-caption="
Seth Meyers, the host of "Late Night" on NBC is a frequent critic of Trump and his administration.The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's “The Howard Stern Show” on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
">Seth Meyers, the host of "Late Night" on NBC is a frequent critic of Trump and his administration.The ire, it seems, is mutual, with the president writing previously on social media: "How bad is Seth Meyers on NBC, a 'network' run by a truly bad group of people - Remember, they also run MSDNC. I got stuck watching Marble Mouth Meyers the other night, the first time in months, and every time I watch this moron I feel an obligation to say how dumb and untalented he is, merely a slot filler for the Scum that runs Comcast." Meyers is pictured here at SiriusXM's “The Howard Stern Show” on June 17, 2025, in New York City.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/STqpo49YN8HtgkWoxkQqHg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNTg2/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/1161a9de81ca882af7c44505e46efb6a class=caas-img>
1 / 6Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, see late-night hosts who have beefed with President Trump
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!", will resume production after it was pulled off the air Sept. 17, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing. Kimmel, a frequent critic of Donald Trump, often earned the ire of the president.After the announcement, Trump urged other networks to do the same. Scroll to see the other late-night talk show hosts that have feuded with the president over the years.
Larry David later satirized Maher comments in an article for The New York Times. The "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star's essay, "My Dinner With Adolf," was a fictional piece written from the perspective of a critic of Adolf Hitler who had dinner with him in 1939 and came away impressed, a parody of Maher's monologue about his dinner with Trump.
Maher responded by telling Piers Morgan that "the minute you play the 'Hitler' card, you've lost the argument," while noting David's essay "wasn't my favorite moment of our friendship."
Maher discussed the controversy surrounding his Trump dinner again in November. While talking about the phenomenon of people who cut off contact with others because of political disagreements, Maher slammed the "childish" critics who were unhappy "because I had dinner with" the president. "You know, because he's Hitler," Maher said. "Except he's not. So unhelpful and dumb."
The comedian again defended the dinner in an interview with CNN, telling the network, "The people who stopped watching my show because I had dinner with [Trump] are idiots."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump slams Bill Maher after their White House dinner
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
