Liberal comedian Bill Maher shared his unexpected takeaways after a private dinner with President Donald Trump — and what he revealed may challenge some deeply entrenched narratives among the left.
“Everything I’ve not liked about him was, I swear to God, absent. At least on this night, with this guy,” Maher said, clearly surprised at the experience. “I never felt I had to walk on eggshells around him. And honestly, I voted for Clinton and Obama, but I would never feel comfortable talking to them the way I was able to talk with Donald Trump.”
The meeting, also attended by UFC President Dana White and musician Kid Rock, left Maher remarking on the contrast between Trump’s public persona and who he encountered behind closed doors.
Maher, known for being one of Trump’s vocal critics, admitted he came in swinging — even bringing a list of Trump’s past insults about him, such as “sleaze-bag” and “low-life dummy,” asking Trump to sign them. The former president complied, “with good humor,” Maher noted, holding up the autographed sheet to applause.
“And I know, that as I say that, millions of liberal sphincters just tightened,” he quipped.
Bill Maher was equally struck by the president’s attentiveness and humility during conversation. “Mostly he steered the conversation to ‘what do you think about this?’ I know. Your mind is blown. So is mine,” he told the audience.
Even when Maher challenged Trump on serious issues — like the decision to scrap the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal — the president remained calm. “He didn’t get mad or call me a left-wing lunatic. He took it in,” Maher recounted.
Perhaps most shocking of all was Trump’s candid moment about the 2020 election. According to Maher, Trump used the word “lost” when referencing the outcome, prompting Maher to respond: “Wow, I never thought I’d hear you say that.” Maher added, “He’s much more self-aware than he lets on in public.”
The comedian praised what he called the “private Trump,” contrasting him with the public figure often portrayed as chaotic or brash. “Just for starters, he laughs. I’d never seen him laugh in public. But he does — including at himself — and it’s not fake. Believe me, as a comedian of forty years, I know a fake laugh when I hear it.”
In a humorous exchange, Trump jokingly said the best thing about President Reagan was “his hair,” prompting Maher to remind him that Reagan also helped bring down Communism. Trump reportedly took the jab in stride.
Maher concluded with a blunt observation that is sure to stir debate on both sides of the aisle:
“A crazy person does not live in the White House. A person who plays a crazy person on TV a lot lives there. Which I know is f–ed up, it’s just not as f–ed up as I thought it was.”
In a media environment where extreme partisanship often clouds even the possibility of nuance, Maher’s honesty stands out — and it might just prompt some Americans to take a second look at a man long dismissed by the very circles Maher has often belonged to.
