Bill Maher fires back after Trump sends ‘blistering’ text over China-Canada hockey joke
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Comedian Bill Maher recently addressed remarks made by President Donald Trump about their April dinner at the White House during his show 'Real Time With Bill Maher.'
The host responded to Trump’s accusations that Maher was “nervous and scared” during the meeting, setting the record straight about what really happened. Maher also clarified details about the drink he ordered and defended his stance on continuing to criticize Trump.
Bill Maher addresses Trump’s allegations of dinner night
On his show, Maher fact-checked Trump’s recent comments about their informal White House dinner. Trump had accused Maher of being “extremely nervous” and lacking confidence, claiming that Maher immediately asked for a “Vodka Tonic” to calm his nerves.
Trump further described Maher as a “highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT” and said he suffers from “Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS!),” adding, “there is nothing that will ever be done to cure him of this very serious disease.”
Maher, however, pushed back against these characterizations, calling them outright fabrications. He explained that he woke up the Saturday following the dinner to find the event back in the headlines.
Maher recalled, “Trump was very mad at me because I didn’t get his joke about how China is gonna make Canada give up hockey,” adding humorously that the joke needed “workshopping.”
Despite Trump claiming the dinner was “a waste of time,” Maher said he found it valuable. He emphasized that Trump turned on him “because I never stopped criticizing him. I never said I would.”
Maher also drew a comparison to dating, saying, “I know how women feel now. A guy buys you dinner and then expects you to put out. OK? I’m not that guy.”
Ongoing feud between Bill Maher and Trump intensifies
Maher clarified several details Trump misrepresented. Contrary to the president’s claim, Maher did not immediately order a vodka tonic. “It was a margarita. It was not a vodka, and it wasn’t immediately. I had a drink before dinner, as people do,” Maher explained.
As for being nervous or scared, Maher called the allegation “Bulls**t!” He emphasized that in person, Trump was “very different, very nice, very gracious,” despite the criticism he received from the left for reporting on the encounter honestly.
Donald Trump spoke during a White House press briefing in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Looking ahead, Maher said he planned to respond fully to Trump’s remarks in an upcoming episode of his show, which returns on March 6 after a one-week hiatus. He promised to address “his whole long screed” and “prove that I don’t have Trump derangement syndrome.”
In recent weeks, the comedian has continued to take jabs at Trump. On his a previous episode, Maher ridiculed the president’s reaction to a Supreme Court ruling that deemed his broad global tariffs unlawful, jokingly calling him “such a Karen” for his response.
