Bill Maher Defends Second Dinner With Trump: 'I Did It Again, Bitches'
The HBO host pushed back against critics on his show 'Real Time,' asserting his right to dine with the former president.
Comedian Bill Maher directly addressed critics on his HBO program "Real Time" following his second dinner with former President Donald Trump.
"Yeah, I did it again, bitches," Maher declared during his opening monologue on Friday, referencing the Oct. 15 White House gathering that also included sports commentator Stephen A. Smith and musician Kid Rock. This event marked Maher's second private dinner with Trump, the first having occurred in April 2025.
Maher further elaborated on his stance, stating, "You know what? F— you. I like these dinners." His remarks come after Trump told reporters that the dinner was enjoyable and that he believed Maher "likes me a lot more than people understand."
Trump described the evening as long and productive, adding, "We talked about everything. It lasted a long time." He suggested that Maher had agreed to be more congenial during their initial meetings.
Maher had discussed the upcoming dinner earlier in the month on his "Club Random" podcast, telling agent Ari Emanuel that he would be dining with Trump again. He recounted Trump's invitation, noting that the former president had been "really nice."
"Like, I promise I won’t say bad things about you like I did the last time. And I texted back, and I said, ‘You know what, you’re the president of the United States. Say whatever the f— you want. I’m just glad we’re talking,’" Maher said, comparing the interaction to comedian Don Rickles' style of humor.
Following his first dinner with Trump in April 2025, which also included Kid Rock and UFC CEO Dana White, Maher had suggested that the former president might be "more self-aware" in private settings. He told his audience at the time, "You can hate me for it, but I’m not a liar. Trump was gracious and measured."
Despite these private interactions, Maher has continued to publicly criticize Trump on various issues. In June, he commented on Trump's approach to an Iran deal, characterizing it as settling for less than originally demanded.
Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations, suggested that Maher's direct confrontation of criticism was a deliberate strategy. "Maher walked in with a plan. His Friday monologue showed it," Mudd told Fox News Digital. "If Bill Maher were my client, I’d advise him to keep sounding like himself. A host who sounds like a surrogate loses credibility." Mudd added that by addressing the backlash preemptively, Maher aimed to mitigate the impact of criticism from his audience.