Bill Maher, host of "Real Time," stated on Sunday that former President Donald Trump feels "betrayed" by him following their dinner in 2025. In an interview on ABC's "This Week," Maher talked about receiving the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center, where Trump is the chairman. Maher and Trump had exchanged remarks after reports indicated that the Trump administration attempted to prevent Maher from receiving the award.
Maher expressed respect for Trump's efforts to block the award, stating, "I love that, you know, he takes the game seriously." He acknowledged that despite the tensions, he appreciated the opportunity to attend the ceremony. After accepting the award, Maher addressed the ongoing conflict with Trump, attributing it to his refusal to align with Republican views after meeting with Trump the previous year.
Maher remarked, "He was just mad at me because I went to his house for dinner with no guarantee that I would leave – guarantee? It was never in the cards that I was ever going to come over to their – his side." He emphasized the importance of dialogue over confrontation.
During the interview, anchor Jonathan Karl noted that Maher had faced criticism for meeting with Trump, to which Maher defended his decision, stating that the meeting was not a negative experience despite Trump's controversial actions. Maher mentioned that Trump's attacks on him have intensified since their dinner, adding, "Yes, because now he feels betrayed, which is silly because there was never a deal. It was only set up as, instead of shouting at each other, talk to each other."
Maher also indicated that he could consider voting for a Republican candidate like Vice President JD Vance in 2028, depending on the Democratic opponent, stating, "My vote is in play because it can’t be Trump running, so I’m not living in communist America."