Bill Maher says he is heading back to the White House for another private dinner with President Donald Trump next week.
The liberal comedian and political commentator revealed the upcoming meeting during an episode of his “Club Random” podcast, saying Trump invited him back after the two previously dined together.
Maher said the second invitation came unexpectedly.
“I’m having dinner with him next week,” Maher said.
“After the first dinner, I went back to doing what I do. Then he just, out of the blue, ‘Let’s have dinner again.’”
Maher said he quickly accepted.
He also described Trump as personally pleasant during their previous meeting and said the president even joked about not attacking him afterward.
“And he was really nice,” Maher said. “Like, ‘I promise I won’t say bad things about you like I did the last time.’”
Maher said he responded by telling Trump he was free to say what he wanted.
“You know what, you’re the President of the United States,” Maher recalled telling him. “Say whatever the f— you want. I’m just glad we’re talking.”
Maher then compared Trump’s insults to being roasted by comedian Don Rickles.
“It’s like being called a ‘hockey puck’ by Don Rickles,” he said. “It’s just what he does.”
The conversation took place with Hollywood agent and producer Ari Emanuel, who previously represented Trump during his time on “The Apprentice.”
Maher also used the podcast to criticize people who refuse to meet with political figures they dislike.
He said it “blows my mind” that someone would turn down an invitation to have dinner with a sitting president simply because of political disagreement.
Maher specifically brought up comedian Larry David, who had criticized Maher’s first dinner with Trump.
Maher accused David of hypocrisy because Emanuel had also recently spoken with Trump.
“It’s so interesting to me that Larry David, like, I’m the devil because I talk to him, but his own agent just talked to him on Monday,” Maher said.
“You must recognize the hypocrisy there.”
Maher said critics were willing to condemn him for sitting down with Trump but did not apply the same standard when people in their own circles met with the president.
The upcoming dinner will be Maher’s second private meeting with Trump at the White House.
After their first dinner, Maher said he came away surprised by how comfortable the conversation felt.
He said he did not feel like he had to carefully monitor everything he said around Trump.
Maher has long identified as liberal and has frequently criticized Trump, but he has also become known for attacking Democrats and progressives when he believes they are wrong.
That has occasionally put him at odds with members of his own political camp.
Maher has also praised Trump’s sense of humor, calling him someone with “good humor.”
Following their earlier dinner, Maher said he felt unusually comfortable speaking directly with Trump, per Just the News.
“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,” Maher said.
That experience appears to have left enough of an impression for Maher to accept another invitation.
For now, Maher says the second White House dinner is set for next week.
And despite the criticism he received after their first meeting, he appears to have no hesitation about returning.
