Trump attacks Bill Maher on Truth Social after lame duck remarks
In a column published by the Los Angeles Times, journalist Lorraine Ali examines how President Trump and HBO host Bill Maher engaged in a public dispute driven by their need for attention. The dispute erupted after Maher criticized the president on his weekly program, prompting a lengthy response from Trump on social media.
Trump Targets Maher Over Lame Duck Remarks and Low Ratings
The latest clash began during the Friday episode of Real Time With Bill Maher, where the host discussed the administration’s current standing with guest and former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Maher labeled the president a “lame duck” weighed down by low approval ratings, soaring gas prices, a conflict with Iran, and other mounting political pressures. The remarks directly triggered a furious reaction from the 80-year-old president.
On Sunday published a 1,300-word post on Truth Social attacking the 70-year-old comedian. As noted in parallel coverage by ArcaMax, Trump branded Maher a “biased, dumb SLEAZEBAG” and claimed the host’s program suffered from abysmal ratings. The president also alleged that Maher had a drink in hand during an Oct. 15 White House tour, describing him as drunk and calling him a “major POTHEAD who looked like hell.”
Maher Praised Trump Before Facing Comedian Rebukes
The public hostility marks a sharp turnaround from the amicable rapport the two men previously cultivated. Maher and Trump dined together at the White House for a second time, following an initial controversial get-together in March 2025. After that first meeting, Maher publicly praised the president as “gracious and measured,” drawing sharp rebukes from fellow comedians such as Patton Oswalt and a satirical essay by Larry David in The New York Times titled “My Dinner With Adolf.”
According to ArcaMax, Maher defended his face-to-face access during his Friday broadcast, telling his audience, “I know. I’m the bad guy because I go and say face-to-face to the man the things you write in articles that he’ll never read, but OK. You know what? F— you. I like these dinners.” During the same episode, Maher recounted discussing deadly ICE incidents, the war in Ukraine, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegheth with the president, while also mocking the administration’s recent favorable policy dealings with Russia.
