“I really didn’t like the idea much, and don’t like it much now, but thought it would be interesting,” Trump said on Truth Social of having dinner with longtime antagonist Maher. “It might be fun or, it might not, but you will be the first to know!”
Maher has been critical of Trump and some of his policies, although videos of Maher criticizing progressive policy positions in recent years have gone viral on social media. Trump filed a lawsuit against Maher in 2013, which was later dropped.
Trump also said that Kid Rock will be at the dinner, suggesting that it was arranged by the musician and that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White might attend.
“I got a call from a very good guy, and friend of mine, Kid Rock, asking me whether or not it would be possible for me to meet, in the White House, with Bill Maher, a man who has been unjustifiably critical of anything, or anyone, TRUMP,” the president said, adding that he believes Maher “will publicly proclaim what a terrible guy I am.”
“Who knows, though, maybe I’ll be proven wrong? In any event, I’m doing a favor for a friend. I look forward to meeting with Bill Maher, Kid Rock and, I believe, even the Legendary Dana White will be present,” Trump said.
“If two guys who’ve been at each other for so long ... I mean, it’s kind of a Nixon to China thing,“ Maher said, adding, “There was nobody who was harder on Trump or more prescient about the fact that he wasn’t going to leave office voluntarily than I was.”
It’s not clear when the dinner will take place. Maher said that he believes it is a chance to open dialogue.
“Let’s talk to each other face to face. Let’s stop shouting from 3,000 miles away, you know?” he said.
“If they expect me to be leaving in a MAGA hat, they’re going to be very disappointed, but I know they don’t. Look, it probably will accomplish very little, but you got to try, man, you got to try.”
Neither Trump nor Maher referred to the 2013 lawsuit in their recent comments. The suit stemmed from a joke that Maher made about Trump being the son of an orangutan.
Trump, who later dropped the lawsuit, told Fox News at the time that he did not believe that Maher told “a joke” and was instead expressing “venom.”