Donald Trump hosted Kid Rock, Bill Maher and Stephen A Smith at the White House for an unusual political dinner, with the musician later saying the group agreed that socialism and communism should have no foothold in government.
Rock, whose real name is Bob Ritchie, described the gathering as an “epic” evening featuring two Republicans and two Democrats who shared food, exchanged jokes and held “tough conversations” about major issues.
Speaking on Fox News, Rock said the four men had “wholeheartedly agreed” on their opposition to socialism and communism. He made the remarks while criticising Abdul El-Sayed, a Democrat standing for the Senate in Michigan.
The dinner brought together figures from sharply different political and professional backgrounds. Maher is a liberal comedian and long-standing Trump critic, while Smith is an ESPN sports commentator and Rock has been a prominent supporter of the president.
Rock said Maher raised the war in Iran and the issue of bringing back Afghan interpreters who had helped American forces during the conflict.
Smith separately told Sean Hannity that he used the meeting to discuss funding for historically black colleges and universities. He praised Mr Trump for signing the Futures Act, which he said delivered more than 250 million dollars annually to HBCUs, but warned that the president’s campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion had left corporations concerned about donating to them.
Smith said Mr Trump listened to his concerns and promised to consider them, adding that the president had said he would meet his team the following week to discuss the issue.
Mr Trump later described the evening as a success, telling reporters that the men had enjoyed themselves. He said Mr Maher and Mr Smith liked him despite their political positions, adding: “Even though they have to put on a certain little facade for their people, they like Trump and I actually like them. We had a great time.”
He also said the group had taken a tour of the new White House ballroom.
The meeting was arranged by Rock, who has been friends with Maher for years. Maher previously said he wanted to demonstrate that people with opposing views could hold a conversation without constantly trading insults.
Maher had described an earlier meeting with Mr Trump in March 2025 as positive, saying the president had been “gracious and measured”. He later said the president appeared different in private from the confrontational figure seen in public.
The comedian said Mr Trump had listened to his views on issues including immigration, police morale and transgender athletes in women’s sport. He also said he had felt comfortable challenging the president during their discussion.
As a gesture, Maher brought a list of almost 60 insults Mr Trump had directed at him over the years and asked the president to sign it. Maher said Mr Trump did so “with good humour” and gave him several Trump hats without asking him to pose for a photograph wearing one.
Despite the apparent thaw, the pair returned to trading insults afterwards. Mr Trump mocked Maher for asking for a vodka tonic after arriving at the White House, while Maher has continued to criticise the president’s tariff policies and defend his own programme’s ratings.
Smith and Maher were later seen celebrating the sports commentator’s birthday at Madam’s Organ, a jazz bar in Washington DC.
