Bill Maher met with Donald Trump: what does this mean for his political views?
12 april 2025 в 22:13
Critics and fans of Bill Maher were shocked after he met with Donald Trump at the White House. The comedian and Republican president have been hurling insults at each other for many years, but it seems they have made peace. Now some are confused about Maher’s political beliefs. So is he a Democrat or a Republican?
Find out everything we know about Maher’s political position below.
Maher’s dinner with Trump was apparently organized by their mutual friend Kid Rock, who actively supports Trump. About two weeks after the meeting, Maher opened up about it to his audience during an episode of «Real Time» in April 2025.
«As you know, 12 days ago I had dinner with President Trump — a dinner that was organized by my friend Kid Rock, because he and I believe there should be something better than throwing insults from 3,000 miles away», - the comedian began. «And let me first say to everyone who treated this like some kind of summit, you’re funny. As if I was going to sign a treaty or something like that».
Maher explained that as a comedian, he has «no power» compared to the «most powerful leader in the world», - referring to Trump.
«I'm not a leader in anything, except maybe a group of people with centrist views who think there should be a better way to govern this country than hating each other every minute», - Maher added.
Maher made it clear that in the past he had voted for Democrats, but is not a loyal supporter of any one political party. In the last presidential elections, he voted for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden.
Maher described himself as a libertarian. He did not label himself as a conservative or a supporter of liberal views.
Trump and Maher are not necessarily friends, but Maher noted that Trump could «possibly» accept him as such.
«So MAGA fans, don’t worry, your guy didn’t give me anything. Just hats», - Maher said on his show, adding, «Hats and a very generous amount of time and willingness to listen and accept me as a potential friend, even though I’m not MAGA, which was the point of the dinner».
Maher went on to describe Trump as a completely different person in person compared to the character he is in the public eye. In fact, Maher called Trump «kind» and «measured».
«The person I met is not the one who tweeted a bunch of crap the night before about how he thought the dinner was bad and what a deranged (cursed) I was», - Maher explained. «I read that and thought, 'What a lovely way to welcome someone into your home.' But when I got there, that person wasn’t there».
According to the HBO star, Trump even laughed a few times with Maher, noting that it was not fake laughter.
«Let's just start with the fact that he’s laughing! I’ve never seen him laugh in public», - Maher said. «But he’s laughing, including at himself. And it’s not fake. Believe me, as a comedian for 40 years, I know fake laughter when I hear it».
The former Comedy Central employee explained that he «never felt like he had to walk on eggshells» around Trump.
«And honestly? I voted for Clinton and Obama, but I would never have felt comfortable talking to them the way I could talk to Donald Trump», - Maher said. «So that happened. Make of it what you will. Me? I think it’s symbolic of why Democrats these days are so unpopular. He was even okay when I checked him on the orangutan lawsuit. He was. I know».
However, Maher clarified that he will still «criticize much of what [Trump does]: trade wars and disappearing people, ruling by decree, threats to judges, gleefully destroying government».
«So no, I didn’t become MAGA. And credit to the president, there was no pressure for that», - Maher said
Find out everything we know about Maher’s political position below.
Maher’s dinner with Trump was apparently organized by their mutual friend Kid Rock, who actively supports Trump. About two weeks after the meeting, Maher opened up about it to his audience during an episode of «Real Time» in April 2025.
«As you know, 12 days ago I had dinner with President Trump — a dinner that was organized by my friend Kid Rock, because he and I believe there should be something better than throwing insults from 3,000 miles away», - the comedian began. «And let me first say to everyone who treated this like some kind of summit, you’re funny. As if I was going to sign a treaty or something like that».
Maher explained that as a comedian, he has «no power» compared to the «most powerful leader in the world», - referring to Trump.
«I'm not a leader in anything, except maybe a group of people with centrist views who think there should be a better way to govern this country than hating each other every minute», - Maher added.
Maher made it clear that in the past he had voted for Democrats, but is not a loyal supporter of any one political party. In the last presidential elections, he voted for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden.
Maher described himself as a libertarian. He did not label himself as a conservative or a supporter of liberal views.
Trump and Maher are not necessarily friends, but Maher noted that Trump could «possibly» accept him as such.
«So MAGA fans, don’t worry, your guy didn’t give me anything. Just hats», - Maher said on his show, adding, «Hats and a very generous amount of time and willingness to listen and accept me as a potential friend, even though I’m not MAGA, which was the point of the dinner».
Maher went on to describe Trump as a completely different person in person compared to the character he is in the public eye. In fact, Maher called Trump «kind» and «measured».
«The person I met is not the one who tweeted a bunch of crap the night before about how he thought the dinner was bad and what a deranged (cursed) I was», - Maher explained. «I read that and thought, 'What a lovely way to welcome someone into your home.' But when I got there, that person wasn’t there».
According to the HBO star, Trump even laughed a few times with Maher, noting that it was not fake laughter.
«Let's just start with the fact that he’s laughing! I’ve never seen him laugh in public», - Maher said. «But he’s laughing, including at himself. And it’s not fake. Believe me, as a comedian for 40 years, I know fake laughter when I hear it».
The former Comedy Central employee explained that he «never felt like he had to walk on eggshells» around Trump.
«And honestly? I voted for Clinton and Obama, but I would never have felt comfortable talking to them the way I could talk to Donald Trump», - Maher said. «So that happened. Make of it what you will. Me? I think it’s symbolic of why Democrats these days are so unpopular. He was even okay when I checked him on the orangutan lawsuit. He was. I know».
However, Maher clarified that he will still «criticize much of what [Trump does]: trade wars and disappearing people, ruling by decree, threats to judges, gleefully destroying government».
«So no, I didn’t become MAGA. And credit to the president, there was no pressure for that», - Maher said
© Kolganov Andrey
