Bill Maher Lays Waste to Liberal Reporter Attacking His Meeting With Donald Trump [WATCH]

Comedian and political commentator Bill Maher confirmed on Friday’s episode of Real Time with Bill Maher that he recently had dinner with President Donald Trump, and the meeting left a significant impression on him.

The dinner, which had been reported in March as a possibility, took place after arrangements were made through mutual acquaintances, including musician Kid Rock.

On his show, Maher acknowledged that he came away from the dinner with a different perspective on the president.

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Maher said he wasn’t concerned about backlash from critics over his decision to meet with Trump, indicating that he found the conversation to be eye-opening and that he appreciated the opportunity to engage directly.

NEW: Bill Maher says his “mind was blown” to come to the realization that Trump is much more self-aware and personable than he ever imagined.

“Everything I’ve ever not liked about him was, I swear to God, absent,” Maher said.

“He’s much more self-aware than he lets on in… pic.twitter.com/rfXvXjsfCU

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“Not everyone has to like it,” Maher said during the panel segment.

“What is the alternative?”

His comments drew immediate pushback from panelist Josh Rogin, a journalist with The Washington Post, who suggested Maher had been used in a public relations effort by Trump.

Rogin said, “I think you’ve fallen into the trap, and I think I represent 99% of the internet when I say this: You’ve played the game of proximity is principle…Maybe he wasn’t there in good faith.”

Maher rejected the assertion and pushed back on Rogin’s characterization, saying, “You don’t have to patronize me.”

He dismissed the idea that the meeting was a stunt or that he had been manipulated.

“I know what I experienced,” Maher said.

Rogin continued his critique, claiming that Maher had become “a prop in [Trump’s] PR stunt” and suggesting that all Americans would view it that way.

Maher didn’t accept the premise and pointed out that such a view reduces political engagement to caricature.

Piers Morgan, another guest on the panel, dismissed Rogin’s framing as “silly,” noting that conversations across ideological lines should not be treated as inherently suspicious.

Maher agreed, highlighting that productive dialogue was still possible, even in politically divided times.

“The internet is a cesspool that just wants to fight,” Maher said, in response to Rogin citing online backlash as the basis for his critique.

Thread of today’s episode:https://t.co/5sacdXchV3

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The dinner, though not detailed extensively, reportedly allowed Maher to see a different side of Trump — one that differs from how he’s often portrayed by critics in the media.

Maher emphasized that while he still holds his own views, he believed sitting down to talk with someone personally is more valuable than relying on caricature or public narrative.

The meeting itself was not arranged as a media event and reportedly came about through informal connections, not through any official channels or campaign-related planning.

While critics on social media have framed it as a publicity effort, those close to the situation say it was a private conversation aimed at mutual understanding.

President Trump, who remains active politically and continues to draw support nationwide, has often been portrayed by opponents in stark terms.

However, Maher’s account reflects a pattern observed by others who have met Trump in person and walked away with a different perspective than the one shaped by headlines.

Trump has not publicly commented on the dinner.

As political dialogue continues to divide the media landscape, Maher’s willingness to engage with the president and speak honestly about the experience highlights ongoing tensions between public discourse and media narratives.

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