Maher has always been a liberal. But his views are changing now more than ever.
And Bill Maher made a shocking announcement about Donald Trump after this closed door meeting.
In a surprising twist, comedian Bill Maher, a vocal Trump detractor for years, recently tipped his hat to the president’s political savvy.
The revelation came just days after Maher enjoyed a private dinner with the commander-in-chief at the White House, a gathering orchestrated by Trump ally and musician Kid Rock.
During Sunday’s episode of his hit Club Random podcast, Maher chatted with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo and couldn’t help but acknowledge Trump’s knack for authenticity.
“Trump really … is one of the most effective politicians … whatever you think of the policy and him as a person,” the 69-year-old admitted with a nod to the president’s skill. “Just as a politician, just understanding that [you should] always lean in to being more who you are.”
Maher, who’s spent nearly a decade jabbing at Trump since he burst onto the political scene, pointed out what sets him apart.
“The people are not savvy about issues but they smell a phony a mile away and that kind of s–t, nobody else does it,” he said, hinting at a certain realness that resonates.
The dinner last week, attended by UFC boss Dana White, seemed to soften the edges of their long-standing feud. On the podcast, Maher even contrasted Trump’s grit with the Democrats’ struggles.
“You know, he has those moments that no other politician has. And the Democrats have to find that guy,” he said. “But let’s be real — they’ve been searching for years, and they’re still coming up empty.”
One standout memory Maher shared was Trump’s bold move after Biden’s messy Afghanistan exit in 2021.
“When he did that thing where the guy came in from the Taliban and he said, ‘This is an aerial picture of your house. If during our withdrawal one American is hurt, just know I know where you live,’” Maher recounted.
“I was like, ‘Oh, can we just play the music now? Because I don’t care it’s Donald Trump and he’s the worst person ever, blah, blah, blah — I f–king love that!’”
The Real Time host also gave a shoutout to Trump’s knack for connecting with everyday folks. “One time they were doing something, something was going on and he said, ‘You know what? When you come after New York, you gotta go through me.’ It’s like, oh — hometown boy,” Maher noted, painting Trump as a scrappy defender of his turf.
Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, dished to Sean Hannity about Maher’s White House jitters. At one point, Trump offered him a drink, and Maher quipped he’d take a margarita—prompting the president to have the staff whip one up.
“We basically stuck to things that we agreed on,” Rock said of the night.
“They both have extremely deep knowledge of American history, both very smart guys, and you know, very reasonable people, even though they’ve had this pretty harsh relationship. It was cool.”
Maher’s rare praise suggests there’s something undeniable about Trump’s style—whether his critics like it or not.
