Donald Trump has launched a lengthy attack on comedian Bill Maher, branding him a “complete and total loser” days after the pair shared dinner at the White House.
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday night, the US president criticised Maher’s HBO programme, his audience and his political commentary, while insisting he would not appear on Real Time with Bill Maher.
“Let’s talk about this COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSER, Bill Maher. He’s got a Low Rated Show on equally Low Rated HBO,” Trump wrote.
Trump claimed Maher wanted him to appear on the programme “DESPARATELY” but said: “It won’t happen!” He also referred to his own work on The Apprentice and said he had agreed to meet Maher after the first of their White House dinners, but had never agreed to take part in the show.
The president accused Maher of dishonesty when discussing him and rejected the comedian’s suggestion that Trump had suffered his lowest ratings and was losing support among Republicans.
Trump said CNN had published a poll showing him with between 98 and 99 per cent support within the Republican Party, which he described as an all-time record high. The post did not provide further details of the poll.
He also alleged that Maher had lied when asked about the laughter heard on his programme, suggesting that a “Laughter Machine” was being used.
“People can’t think he’s funny,” Trump wrote. “Bill Maher lied, but he lies about everything.”
Trump and Maher’s White House dinner
Trump said the latest dinner, attended by musician Kid Rock and ESPN personality Stephen A Smith, had been positive and lasted about two hours or less, rather than four hours.
“Overall, I thought it was a good meeting,” he wrote. “After the first dinner, Bill Maher was friendly, I guess, everyone walked away pleased.”
According to Trump, Maher later returned to his previous style of commentary. The president said he understood that the comedian was “doing his thing” and claimed he had not taken the criticism personally, while continuing to mock Maher’s ratings.
Trump described Maher as “not a nice guy” and alleged that he said things to appeal to his audience, which the president referred to as being largely made up of “Losers, and people who don’t like working”.
The president also revisited Maher’s first White House dinner in April last year, claiming that the comedian had invited himself and had appeared nervous and insecure.
Trump referred to Maher having a bruised area around his eye and nose, adding: “But it wasn’t me!” No further explanation was given in the post.
Maher had defended the dinners on his programme on Saturday night after facing criticism over attending them. Referring to the latest gathering, he said: “Yeah I did it again b******.”
He later added: “You know what? F*** you. I like these dinners.”
Trump praised former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who had appeared on Maher’s show, describing her as “great”, but called Maher a “dumb sleazebag”.
The president concluded by accusing Maher of being afraid to acknowledge what he described as the success of his administration and said he would not watch the programme again.
“Bill: Don’t call anymore,” Trump wrote. “You’re not transformative, you’re a Loser!”
