The détente between Donald Trump and Bill Maher lasted just over a week. On Sunday night, the president posted a 1,318-word attack on Truth Social against the Real Time With Bill Maher host, The Hollywood Reporter reported, nine days after Trump had praised a dinner the two shared at the White House, according to Deadline.
"Let's talk about this COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSER, Bill Maher," Trump began, before going after Maher's ratings, HBO and Maher's longtime producer Chuck LaBella.
What set him off
The post followed Friday's episode of Real Time, in which Maher mocked Trump's approval ratings and his recent remarks praising men's physiques, and joked that he had spent four hours at dinner with the president without getting a compliment. Maher also aimed a joke at Trump over his support for a Republican campaign ad, and interviewed former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, during which he described Trump as only half sane, per Deadline.
Trump disputed the length of the Oct. 15 dinner, which also included Stephen A. Smith and Kid Rock, writing that it lasted two hours or less and that he had learned nothing. He called someone a pothead who had looked terrible on this visit, accused the host of drinking as he walked through the White House and of relying on canned laughter. Deadline read those barbs as aimed at Maher, while THR said it was unclear whether they targeted Maher or LaBella.
Much of the post was about LaBella, who Trump said had worked as a gofer on The Apprentice and spent years calling to set up meetings and ask him onto Maher's show, something Trump said he will never do.
A familiar pattern
This is not the first time the relationship has curdled. After their first dinner in March 2025, Trump was initially complimentary before attacking Maher and calling the meeting a waste of time. In June, the Kennedy Center Board, whose members are appointed by the president, awarded Maher the Mark Twain Prize.
After this month's dinner, Trump told reporters that Maher liked him more than people realized. By Sunday, he was signing off with a promise never to watch the show again. Representatives for Maher did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Deadline and THR.
Reporting sources: Deadline, “Donald Trump Posts 1,300+ Word Sunday Night Diatribe About “Complete And Total Loser” Bill Maher, Nine Days After Praising Their “Great Dinner”” · The Hollywood Reporter, “Donald Trump Attacks Bill Maher in Scathing, 1,318-Word Social Media Post: “Complete and Total Loser””.