Bill Maher Pushes Back After Trump Account Rant Over White House Dinner

Bill Maher pushed back on Feb. 20 after a Feb. 14 trump account post dismissed a recent White House dinner as a waste of time. The exchange matters because it has extended a public feud between the comedian and the president, prompted fresh barbs about behavior at the dinner, and signaled Maher intends to keep criticizing the president despite the backlash.

What the Trump Account Post Said

The Feb. 14 post criticized Maher for their dinner, calling the meeting a waste of time and leveling personal jabs about Maher’s demeanor and drinking. The president claimed Maher was extremely nervous, lacked confidence, and immediately asked for a vodka tonic to soothe his nerves. That post reignited attention on the earlier White House meeting and framed the encounter as one-sided in tone.

Maher's Rebuttal and the Ongoing Exchange

On the Feb. 20 episode of his program, Maher rejected the portrayal that he was overcome with nerves. He said he had a different drink at the table, noting he asked for a margarita and that he had already had a drink before dinner. Maher also pushed back on the idea that their meeting was a waste of time and made clear he never promised to stop criticizing the president.

Maher used a sharp, personal analogy to explain his stance, observing that having dinner with a powerful figure does not obligate him to cease critique. He also said the decision to dine with the president drew criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, and quipped that he simply “can’t win” in that dynamic.

The dinner itself took place in early 2025 and was put together by a prominent supporter of the president. Maher has previously described the president as gracious in person at that meeting, calling the in-person demeanor measured and contrasting that with the president’s public persona.

Timeline and Key Claims

• Feb. 14: The president posted comments dismissing the dinner and criticizing Maher’s demeanor and drink choice.
• Feb. 20: Maher addressed the post on his program, disputed the claim that he was visibly nervous, and said he had a different drink and had been drinking before dinner.
• Early 2025: The dinner between Maher and the president took place at the White House and was arranged by a prominent supporter.

Why the Exchange Matters Going Forward

This public back-and-forth keeps Maher in the spotlight and reinforces his stated intention to continue critiquing the president. It also underscores how encounters between public figures can be reframed by social-media posts and public statements, generating renewed attention long after a meeting has occurred.

Maher signaled that he will revisit parts of the president’s post in future episodes, including an intention to address claims about what critics sometimes label as so-called "Trump Derangement Syndrome. " That suggests the exchange is not closed and that Maher plans to use his platform to further contest the narrative offered in the trump account post.

Uncertainties remain about how the president will respond next or whether the conversation will escalate, but for now the dispute centers on competing descriptions of the same dinner: one that paints Maher as nervous and unimpressive, and the other that describes a cordial meeting and a continued commitment to public critique.