'I can't deny the success': Bill Maher praises Trump despite not voting for POTUS

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Comedian Bill Maher praised President Donald Trump and admitted that he cannot deny his “enormous success” during his second term so far.

On Monday, October 13, Maher was joined by actor William H Macy during an episode of his 'Club Random Podcast' where he acknowledged the POTUS' success.

Bill Maher says 'you have to give your respect' to Trump

During the podcast, Bill Maher told William H Macy, "I always say this — you cannot ever deny success. You just have to give your respect even if it’s not your thing."

"Have the humility to give it up for enormous success on any level. Trump — not my choice, didn’t vote for him… and he’s – I can’t deny the success," he added.

Macy chimed in and said, "I can't either, and he's the president."

"And he's the president. But we don't have to get into that. We're drunk," Maher added.

Maher made the remarks a few days after President Trump brokered a peace deal between Hamas and Israel, which led to the release of 20 Israeli hostages by the Hamas, who were held captive since October 7, 2023.

As part of the same phase of the ceasefire deal, Israel also released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners under the swap agreement.

Meanwhile, President Trump addressed Israel’s Knesset on Monday, telling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that "you’re not at war anymore Bibi" after pledging two vows – "never forget, and never again." 

The president also said Israel "has won all they can" and that it’s now time for peace "for the entire Middle East."

He further urged Israel’s president to issue a "pardon" to Netanyahu for any future corruption prosecutions.

Interestingly, this isn't the first time that Maher, who has been a longtime critic of Trump, has spoken positively about Trump.

Bill Maher on White House dinner with Donald Trump

In March 2025, Bill Maher was invited for dinner with President Donald Trump at the White House.

He said during a segment of his show 'Real Time with Bill Maher' that he found the POTUS persona in real life quite different from what he sees on television.

Maher detailed how his dinner with Trump at the White House on March 31 went. The host also shared a printout of a list of insults that Trump had leveled at him over the years, which the POTUS signed with "good humor".

He broke into a lengthy monologue on the April 11 episode of 'Real Time', describing his highly anticipated visit to the White House.

"You can hate me for it, but I'm not a liar. Trump was gracious and measured. 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," he said.

He also mocked those who treated his White House visit like "some kind of summit" brokered by Kid Rock, calling them "ridiculous".

Maher said, "I have no power. I'm a f**king comedian, and he's the most powerful leader in the world! I'm not the leader of anything, except maybe a contingent of centrist-minded people who think there's got to be a better way of running this country than hating each other every minute."

"OK, so meet up in person, maybe it'll be different. Spoiler alert, it was," he added.

Maher mentioned that he was surprised by how Trump laughs, something he had never seen the president do in public.

"Just for starters, he laughs! I've never seen him laugh in public. But he does, including at himself. And it's not fake. Believe me, as a comedian of 40 years, I know a fake laugh when I hear it," he added.