Bill Maher fires back at liberal critics over second Trump dinner

A side-by-side image shows Bill Maher and President Donald Trump. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images; Christopher Polk/Variety/Getty Images)

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Comedian Bill Maher had a string of harsh words Friday for critics who may have taken issue with his second dinner with President Donald Trump at the White House last week.

During his opening monologue on HBO’s "Real Time," Maher hit back against criticism of his latest dinner with Trump — in which sports commentator Stephen A. Smith and musician Kid Rock also attended.

"Yeah, I did it again, b----es," Maher said, referring to the Oct. 15 dinner, which followed his first dinner with Trump in April 2025.

He then doubled down on his decision to attend, adding, "You know what? F--- you. I like these dinners."

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Bill Maher attends the Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Mark Guiducci at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on March 15, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (FilmMagic via Getty Images)

Maher's confirmation that he attended a second White House dinner comes after Trump told reporters last week that he enjoyed his time eating alongside the three celebrities.

"The dinner last night with Kid Rock and Stephen A. [Smith] and Bill Maher was great," Trump said. "I think they had a good time."

The president added that Maher "likes me a lot more than people understand."

"We talked about everything. It lasted a long time," Trump added.

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President Donald Trump hosted comedian Bill Maher for a second White House dinner alongside Kid Rock and Stephen A. Smith, sparking backlash from Maher's critics. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

In the days leading up to the meal, Maher said he would be dining with the president.

"I'm having dinner with him again next week," Maher told Hollywood agent and executive Ari Emanuel during a conversation on Maher's "Club Random" podcast earlier this month.

"After the first dinner, I went back to doing what I do ... But then, like, he just, out of the blue, let's have dinner again. And I was like, great. And he was really nice," Maher said. 

"Like, I promise I won't say bad things about you like I did the last time.' And I texted back, and I said, 'You know what, you're the president of the United States. Say whatever the f--- you want. I'm just glad we're talking.' It's like being called a 'hockey puck' by Don Rickles. It's just what he does. It's how he talks."

Maher previously made headlines in April 2025 after dining at the White House with Trump, Kid Rock and UFC CEO Dana White. He later told his audience he may have misjudged the president’s demeanor, saying Trump was "more self-aware" in private.

"You can hate me for it, but I’m not a liar. Trump was gracious and measured," Maher said in 2025. "And why isn’t that in other settings? I don’t know, and I can’t answer, and it’s not my place to answer. I’m just telling you what I saw, and I wasn’t high."

BILL MAHER REVEALS HE'S HAVING DINNER WITH TRUMP AGAIN, SAYS HE WAS 'REALLY NICE' BY TEXT

Bill Maher visits The Megyn Kelly Show at the SiriusXM Studios on May 20, 2024, in New York City. (Noam Galai/Getty Images)

However, Maher has continued to criticize the president. In June, he mocked Trump’s Iran deal, saying the president went from demanding "unconditional surrender" to settling for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) while the White House touted the framework as a foreign policy win.

"We got everything we wanted except for everything we asked for," Maher said.

Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations, told Fox News Digital that he thought Maher’s acknowledgment of his second dinner with Trump was likely the result of a preconceived plan to double-down on his attendance. 

"Maher walked in with a plan. His Friday monologue showed it. I said last week that each event guest needs a prepared message in anticipation of public criticism," Mudd said.

Mudd said Maher's willingness to address criticism directly while appearing genuine could help him retain support from fans who object to his relationship with Trump.

"If Bill Maher were my client, I'd advise him to keep sounding like himself. A host who sounds like a surrogate loses credibility," he said. "Maher sounded like Maher, so that risk stays low. Repetition is the next risk, because each new dinner invites the same questions."

"Comedians win by joking first, not by clarifying," Mudd added. "Naming the backlash before his critics do takes much of their power away."

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Fox News’ Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.

Julia Bonavita is a media and culture writer for Fox News Digital, and a Fox Flight Team drone pilot. You can follow her at @juliabonavita13 on all platforms and send story tips to julia.bonavita@fox.com.