Talk show host Bill Maher has taken a lot of flak for his first White House dinner with President Donald Trump. He was invited back and recently did another evening of food and conversation with Trump. He brought podcaster Stephen A. Smith along. On Friday night, he confronted his critics during his show's opening monologue before sitting down with former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Here’s more. (READ)
Bill Maher tells critics he’s not sorry about dining with Trump again:
“F*** YOU, I LIKE THESE DINNERS!”
MAHER: “Yeah, I did it again, b*tches. I know I’m the bad guy because I go and say face-to-face with the man the things you write in articles that he’ll NEVER READ, but okay, I — you know what? F*** YOU, I like these dinners!”
“There was just something thrilling about being announced when you’re in the White House... and you hear the aide say, ‘Sir, your 7 o’clock low-ratings dummy is here.’”
According to Stephen A. Smith, who was at the dinner, the four-hour meal between Maher and President Trump got very heated. In the end, the two agreed they could disagree without hating each other, and they parted on good terms.
After the meeting, Trump said Maher “likes me a lot more than people understand, and I actually like him.”
Maher marvels at how open Trump is to talking with people who disagree with him. There’ll never be a president more accessible than Trump. (WATCH — LANGUAGE WARNING)
Bill Maher tells critics he’s not sorry about dining with Trump again: “F*CK YOU, I LIKE THESE DINNERS!” MAHER: “Yeah, I did it again, bitches. I know I’m the bad guy because I go and say face-to-face with the man the things you write in articles that he’ll NEVER READ, but okay, I — you know what? F*CK YOU, I like these dinners!” “There was just something thrilling about being announced when you’re in the White House... and you hear the aide say, ‘Sir, your 7 o’clock low-ratings dummy is here.’” According to Stephen A. Smith, who was at the dinner, the four-hour meal between Maher and President Trump got very heated. In the end, the two agreed they could disagree without hating each other, and they parted on good terms. After the meeting, Trump said Maher “likes me a lot more than people understand, and I actually like him.”
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) October 24, 2026
This is how American politics USED to be, before the Left went insane.
— Pointed Commentary (@RoyCalbeck) October 24, 2026
the real political divide is being able to sit across from someone you despise for four hours and still shake hands at the end. most people cant even do that with their own family at thanksgiving
— Chloee Nomii🩷 (@ChloeThymey) October 24, 2026
The left walked away from the dinner tables of their families more than a decade ago over Trump. Most have never returned.
Maher showed some humility by admitting Trump was gracious, while he was sometimes disrespectful during the dinner. (WATCH — LANGUAGE WARNING)
Bill Maher’s audience audibly gasps when he reveals the only person who lacked etiquette at the Trump dinner was HIMSELF, and that Trump couldn’t have treated him any better.
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) October 24, 2026
MAHER: “I’m glad that we talked. And by the way, if anyone lacked etiquette at that dinner, it was ME.”… pic.twitter.com/n0VDV3Mss1
(post continues) ...“I brought Stephen A. Smith. He was perfect, on point. ‘I give myself an A-plus for choosing him.’”
“But me... Trump never lost his temper. He never yelled. He never interrupted. I did. I could not have been treated better if I was Russian.”
Moments earlier, Maher told critics in the news media that he went face to face with the man and said the things they’re only brave enough to write in articles he’ll never read.
His message to them: “You know what? F*** you, I like these dinners!”
I give this man a lot of credit for being man enough to go into the lions den and be honest
— Brian Craig 🇺🇸 (@BrianCraigShow) October 24, 2026
He was offered a chance to have an open dialogue with the most powerful man in the world and took it. Only an idiot would turn down an opportunity like that.
Maher had Leavitt as a guest. The two discussed what a great listener Trump is. Maher pointed to something controversial that Trump recently changed his mind on because he paid attention to what people were saying. (WATCH)
Bill Maher admits Trump is a remarkable listener who never interrupts and values every opinion in the room.
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) October 24, 2026
MAHER: "Remember, we were going to have a live execution of the Fort Hood shooter? Somebody talked to him. He DOES LISTEN when he’s in that White House. He never… pic.twitter.com/FZUaBVBbpT
(post continues) ...interrupts. He never gets mad. He listens."
LEAVIT: "He does. And he surveys the room. Something that I find admirable about him is he’ll look around the room, and he’ll ask the opinions of everyone in it, whether it’s a low-level staffer or his chief of staff."
MAHER: "True."
LEAVITT: “He genuinely wants to know how people feel, what they think. He takes their counsel and advice, and then I think he makes the best decision that he believes is best for the country in that moment.”
Anyone who actually pays attention to Donald Trump knows that he really is a tremendous listener and an active listener at that
— Angry Elephant (@Craptocracy) October 24, 2026
How can Bill get it and the Dems dont get it? 🤦♀️
— kiNG (@tyson_nashawn) October 24, 2026
It’s because other Democrats don’t want to get it. It hurts them politically to treat Trump as anything but the evil person they’ve misled people to believe he is.
Maher says Trump treats everyone equally regardless of their station. (WATCH)
Bill Maher admits he was amazed by Trump’s patience and says there are “so many moments” where he gets it.
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) October 24, 2026
MAHER: “He’s just so imperious when he’s out of the White House, and when he’s there, the TOTAL OPPOSITE.”
“He never pulls rank. No matter how flippant I get, he never… pic.twitter.com/7DOGa606cS
(post continues) ...goes, ‘How dare you say that in the White House?’”
“I mean, I can talk to him just like I talk to any guy at a bar.”
“There are so many moments where he gets it.”
Stephen A. Smith described a similar experience about the dinner, saying Trump “could not have been nicer,” just weeks after taking a shot at his IQ.
Trump is definitely more forgiving than people expect or give him credit for.
Leavitt told Maher that Trump encouraged her to do her best and not fret over critics saying she was ‘too young’ to do her job as press secretary. (WATCH)
Karoline Leavitt reveals what President Trump told her when critics said she was too young to be the White House press secretary.
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) October 24, 2026
MAHER: “So is there anything that could make you... not be loyal to whatever he was doing?”
LEAVITT: “He was my boss, but to me, he’s also a friend,… pic.twitter.com/PxsC77033F
(post continues) ...and he gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. I mean, I don’t think I’d be sitting on your show right now if not for him giving me that chance.”
“I’ve also seen him behind the scenes, as you have, and I know his heart... He’s been nothing but kind, uplifting, encouraging. He did name me the youngest press secretary ever, and a lot of people told him he shouldn’t.”
“He told me that. He said, ‘Honey, lots of people said you were too young, and I told them I was building buildings in Manhattan when I was your age, and you can do it.’”
I love her tenacity and boldness. No matter what your feelings on DJT, I think she did well with her opportunity!!!
— Jillian Goodwin (@jilliangoodwin) October 24, 2026
She was the best press secretary 🔥
— Leonardo 🇺🇸🇮🇹 (@Buddy_7522) October 24, 2026
We definitely miss Leavitt. We’re seeing how hard it is to replace her. Hopefully, Trump can find someone who can handle the job's pressure as she did. It's definitely easier said than done.
