President Donald Trump criticized comedian and television host Bill Maher in a lengthy Truth Social post Saturday, calling the HBO personality a “jerk” and “a highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT.”
The president’s statement, which approached 500 words, accused Maher of repeatedly attacking him despite a private dinner the two shared at the White House in spring 2025.
Trump urged Republicans not to cite Maher’s criticism of the political left as evidence that liberal figures are shifting toward conservative positions.
“Bill Maher is a highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT, and Republicans should stop using him to show how the Left is coming over our way — Our Base, the Greatest of All Time, laughs at your weakness when you do it!” Trump wrote.
The president also alleged that Maher suffers from “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” writing, “Bill continues to suffer from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS!), and there is nothing that will ever be done to cure him of this very serious disease.”
Trump described the circumstances surrounding the White House meeting, stating that Maher had requested the dinner through a mutual acquaintance.
The president said he agreed to host the comedian and welcomed him to the Oval Office.
According to Trump, Maher appeared uneasy at the start of the visit. The president wrote that the host was “extremely nervous” and quickly asked for a drink to calm his nerves.
Trump also claimed that Maher told him during the meeting that he was “actually scared.”
The president added that he initially found the interaction somewhat positive, writing that Maher “seemed to be a nice guy” and was respectful when discussing the visit on his show afterward.
The president said his view changed as Maher’s program returned to frequent criticism of him.
Trump wrote that the show became “Very boring, ANTI TRUMP” and failed to mention what he described as key accomplishments from his time in office.
In the post, Trump listed a series of policy and economic claims, including border security, crime reductions, stock market performance, military rebuilding and diplomatic developments.
He wrote that, given those results, criticism from Maher was unwarranted.
Trump ultimately described hosting Maher as “a total waste of time,” adding, “In any event, it was a total waste of time for me to have this jerk at the White House.”
The president said his latest frustration stemmed from Maher’s comments on a recent episode of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher.” During the broadcast, the comedian criticized a Truth Social post Trump had written earlier in the week.
In that earlier message, Trump joked that China might respond to tensions by ending ice hockey in Canada and eliminating the Stanley Cup. The president said the remark was intended as humor tied to concerns about Canada’s relationship with China.
“Well, he [Maher] went on and on about the Hockey statement, like ‘What kind of a person would say such a foolish thing as this,’ as though I were being serious when I said it,” Trump wrote.
Trump also criticized Maher’s television audience size, writing that low ratings would limit the impact of what he called “Fake News statements” about him.
He compared Maher to other late-night hosts, writing, “He is no different than Kimmel, Fallon, or Colbert but, I must admit, slightly more talented!”
The president said Maher had expressed interest in returning to the White House and attending a holiday event but ultimately did not appear.
Trump concluded by stating he preferred to focus on governing.
“Regardless, I’d much rather spend my time MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN than wasting it on him,” Trump wrote.
He ended the post by thanking readers “for your attention to this minor matter!”
