Bill Maher, host of HBO's "Real Time," has confirmed he will have a second private dinner with former President Donald Trump next week. Maher announced the upcoming meeting on his "Club Random" podcast, noting that Trump himself extended the invitation.
According to Maher, Trump called him "out of the blue" to arrange the dinner, promising to avoid the negative social media commentary that followed their first private White House meal last year. Maher stated that Trump told him, "I promise I won’t say bad things about you like I did the last time." Maher responded by telling the former president, "You're the president of the United States, say whatever the f*** you want."
Maher described Trump as having been "gracious and measured" during their initial dinner, though Trump subsequently criticized Maher on social media. The comedian acknowledged that he will continue to critique Trump on his show, regardless of their private meetings.
During the podcast conversation with Hollywood power broker Ari Emanuel, Maher defended his decision to meet with Trump. He argued that there is value in direct communication, even with political adversaries. "It blows my mind that there are people in this world, and lots of them on the far left, who just would turn this opportunity down," Maher said, referring to the chance for a private conversation with the president. "A private dinner in the White House with the president, just a few people. Say whatever you want."
Maher also addressed criticism that such meetings might humanize the former president, stating, "There’s a way to talk to Donald Trump." He added that Trump is "very flawed," but suggested that "we all are."
This upcoming dinner comes after Maher's earlier support for the Iran war and his criticism of former Vice President Kamala Harris, followed by his later urging of Trump to withdraw from the conflict. The conversation about meeting with Trump occurred while discussing broader topics including diplomacy and conflict with Emanuel, who noted his own practice of meeting with figures like Trump "to get things done."