Donald Trump published a 1,300-word post on Truth Social attacking late-night TV host Bill Maher on Sunday, October 26, 2026. The longest social media post of the US president’s term followed Maher’s HBO program Real Time, which featured former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
A Public Fallout Following White House Dinners
Maher had dined at the White House on October 15 alongside guests including Stephen A. Smith and Kid Rock. Trump had initially deemed the evening very informative,
praising the dinner before the host’s subsequent television broadcast set him off. Maher also praised the October 15 dinner too, recalling an interaction at the table by stating, Pass the peas.
Maher previously dined at the White House last year as well, after which Trump similarly attacked the host and deemed the experience a total waste of time for me to have this jerk at the White House.
During the program, Maher questioned Leavitt about whether the president might resort to political vengeance if Republicans suffer losses in the upcoming midterm elections. Maher joked about the commercial, Trump said this is fair game.
A 12-year-old rape victim is fair game?
I know that looks bad.
It sounds better on a birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump responded on Truth Social by calling the host a “TOTAL LOSER” and accusing him of hypocrisy. Trump claimed that Maher tells him how much he loves him and wants to get together while insulting him on television.
Disputes Over Policy and Personal Conduct
Trump used the lengthy message to dispute several specific topics raised during the broadcast. The president also criticized Maher’s stance on foreign policy, specifically pointing to comments regarding nuclear negotiations with Iran, arguing that taking the nuclear weapon away from Iran showed Maher was not very smart and that the world would be a different place right now if Iran had been allowed to obtain one.
The post featured a series of sharp personal insults. Trump wrote that Maher and LaBella should stop calling to say how much Maher loves TRUMP
and wants to get together.
Prior Precedents and Late-Night Friction
This is not the first time Trump has publicly targeted late-night television hosts over their commentary. Earlier in 2026, Trump called for ABC host Jimmy Kimmel’s program to be canceled following a joke about Melania Trump. Last year, he demanded that Seth Meyers be fired. Despite receiving the Mark Twain Prize from the Kennedy Center Board earlier this year—an institution appointed by the president—Maher has frequently oscillated between praising and critiquing the administration.
The breakdown of relations arrives just one week before voters head to the polls for the US midterm elections. Republicans face mounting challenges as public opinion polling indicates growing voter frustration over economic conditions, cost of living pressures, and the ongoing war with Iran. Rather than focusing solely on campaign messaging, the president opted to detail his grievances regarding television ratings, the use of automated laugh tracks, and private communications with Maher’s production team.
| Event Date | Key Participants | Context |
|---|---|---|
| September 19, 2004 | Donald Trump, Bill Maher | Attended the Emmy Awards prior to years of public media sparring. |
| October 15, 2026 | Donald Trump, Bill Maher, Stephen A. Smith, Kid Rock | Attended a White House dinner which Maher initially praised as informative. |
| October 26, 2026 | Donald Trump, Bill Maher | Trump published a 1,300-word Truth Social rant denouncing the host as a “TOTAL LOSER.” |
More on Donald Trump
🚨 TRUMP UNLOADS ON BILL MAHER IN MASSIVE TRUTH SOCIAL RANT — WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FRIENDLY DINNER?🇺🇸 President Donald Trump just went after HBO host Bill Maher in a lengthy Truth Social post, calling him a “COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSER” and accusing him of dishonesty, terrible… https://t.co/RPutlOUCdx pic.twitter.com/GkkQHVBPIA
Worth a look
- 9th Circuit denies DOJ emergency appeal over California ballots
- Grand Millennium Shanghai HongQiao Celebrates 20 Years of International Hospitality in Mainland China
- Trump Offers $1M Reward for Voter Fraud Tips Leading to Conviction (time.news)
- Donald Trump nabízí odměnu 1 milionu dolarů (newsy-today.com)
