Bill Maher: Trump Was ‘Gracious, Measured’ at White House Dinner/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Bill Maher revealed that during a recent White House dinner, President Trump was “gracious, measured,” and surprisingly self-aware—contrary to his public persona. Maher insisted the Trump he met was calm, humorous, and not the “ranting” figure seen on TV. The meeting, brokered by Kid Rock, left Maher puzzled—and slightly hopeful.
Maher Describes Unexpectedly Calm Trump: Quick Looks
- Bill Maher met with Donald Trump at the White House, calling the president “gracious and measured.”
- Kid Rock arranged the dinner, hoping to bridge political divides through candid conversation.
- Maher said Trump was funny, self-aware, and open, noting that he never once felt the need to “walk on eggshells.”
- The two shared a laugh over Trump’s old insults, which Maher brought printed out—Trump signed them.
- Maher emphasized he “didn’t go MAGA,” and Trump never pressured him to change his views.
- Topics ranged from the 2020 election to media portrayals, with Trump reportedly receptive to criticism.
- Maher was struck by Trump’s private demeanor, calling it starkly different from his public, combative persona.
- Maher criticized both sides for polarization, saying liberals must be open to dialogue without compromising principles.
- He called the experience surreal, especially after returning home and seeing Trump “ranting” on TV later.
- Maher still plans to critique Trump’s policies, including trade wars, authoritarian tendencies, and “ruling by decree.”
- The comedian said the meeting changed his view, not of Trump’s policies, but of Trump as a person.
- Maher warned Democrats are losing popularity, partly for being closed to real conversations with ideological opponents.
Bill Maher: Trump Was ‘Gracious, Measured’ at White House Dinner
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — HBO host and political commentator Bill Maher shared an unexpectedly reflective take on his recent visit with President Donald Trump at the White House, describing the former president as “gracious and measured”—a sharp contrast to his often combative public persona.
The meeting, arranged by singer Kid Rock, took place last week and has since sparked controversy among Maher’s audience and political critics. But the longtime host of Real Time insisted he wouldn’t lie about what he saw.
“You can hate me for it, but I’m not a liar. Trump was gracious and measured,” Maher told his viewers. “I wasn’t high, and I know what I saw.”
According to Maher, the dinner was lighthearted and filled with laughter, including moments where Trump laughed at himself—a side Maher said he’d never seen in the media.
Surprises and Sincerity
During the two-and-a-half-hour dinner, Maher presented Trump with a list of past insults the former president had publicly lobbed at him. Rather than react with hostility, Trump reportedly signed the list with “good humor.”
“And I know as I say that, millions of liberal sphincters just tightened,” Maher joked. “What I’m gonna do is report exactly what happened.”
Maher emphasized that while he didn’t become a Trump supporter, he was treated with respect. He said he felt more comfortable with Trump than he might have felt with past Democratic presidents, including Bill Clinton or Barack Obama.
Two Sides of Trump
What left Maher most bewildered was the contrast between Trump’s demeanor in private and his public persona. After returning from the dinner, Maher watched 60 Minutes and saw Trump giving a fiery speech.
“I’m like, ‘Who’s that guy? What happened to Glinda the Good Witch?’” Maher quipped. “A crazy person doesn’t live in the White House, a person who plays a crazy person on TV a lot lives there.”
Maher said the Trump he met was curious, calm, and conversational—asking for his thoughts on various topics and not deflecting criticism. The comedian also noted that Trump seemed to understand Maher’s role as a critic, referencing an episode of Real Time in which Maher had delivered a scathing monologue.
“He said to me early on that he’d seen our last episode… and he said, ‘I thought maybe you’d be nice, but you hit me really hard.’”
Still a Critic, Just Not Surprised
While Maher was candid about his positive experience, he made clear that it didn’t mean he was pulling any punches.
“I don’t have a good feeling and will be critical about a lot of what he’s doing—the trade war, disappearing people, ruling by decree, threatening judges, gutting the government with glee,” Maher said.
Still, he walked away from the dinner with respect for the unexpected civility and openness shown.
“He now understands I have a job to do,” Maher said. “At least he did on this night.”
Maher concluded with a call for dialogue over division, criticizing liberals who scoff at any attempt to engage across political lines.
“Don’t talk, as opposed to what? Writing the same editorial for the millionth time?” Maher asked. “He takes the piss out of everybody else, and we can hold ours?”
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