Bill Maher Ready To ‘Prove’ He Doesn’t Have ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ Amid Feud with President

Bill Maher is on a mission to set the record straight after Donald Trump called him out.

What began as a dinner between the late-night host and the president last year, an encounter Maher later praised, has now reignited their past feud.

At that time, Maher received backlash for siding with Trump despite previously criticizing him. 

However, in an unexpected twist, Trump is now condemning that very meeting and accusing Maher of reverting to his old attacks.

Bill Maher Responds To Donald Trump’s Tirade at Him

 

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During the February 20 episode of “Real Time with Bill Maher,” the host confronted Trump's lengthy rant about him. Maher disputed Trump’s account of their hangout, arguing that he had a “margarita,” not a vodka tonic as Trump claimed, before clearing the air on his appearance 

“He said I was nervous, scared, no confidence - bulls–t,” the TV presenter slammed. Maher made it clear that sharing a meal did not mean softening his criticism. "I never stopped criticizing him," Maher said. "I never said I would! I know how women feel now: A guy buys you dinner and expects you to put out. I'm not that guy."

As for his response, the comedian added it was far from over, as when his HBO show resumes on March 6 after their break, he was going to further challenge Trump. 

"We're gonna come back. I'm gonna address this at the end," Maher declared. "His whole long screed, and prove that I don't have Trump Derangement Syndrome."

How Donald Trump Slammed Bill Maher, Accusing Him Of Suffering From TDS

Maher’s response comes a week after the U.S. leader took to his Truth Social platform, calling him a “jerk” and describing their hangout as a waste of time. 

The commander-in-chief alleged that Maher immediately requested a “vodka tonic" and appeared tense. “He said to me, ‘I've never felt like this before, I'm actually scared,’” Trump recalled. 

The world leader recalled that their meeting was pleasant and noted that Maher initially spoke positively about him on his first show afterward. However, he argued that the tone quickly shifted back to what he called the same “old story of very boring, ANTI TRUMP,” while ignoring his achievements. 

The 79-year-old concluded with a scathing remark about the political commentator.

“Bill continues to suffer from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS!), and there is nothing that will ever be done to cure him of this very serious disease,” Trump wrote. 

What Bill Maher Said About Trump Following Their Private Meeting 

Before Trump and Maher’s current back-and-forth over their very famous dinner in April 2025, the tone between them was different.  

After the hangout, Maher went on gushing about Trump’s leadership during an episode of his “Club Random podcast.”

"Trump really ... is one of the most effective politicians ... whatever you think of the policy and him as a person," Maher praised, according to The Blast.

He also expressed admiration at Trump's firm warning to the Taliban after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan during Joe Biden's administration, saying he felt proud of that moment. 

Bill Maher Defends Donald Trump Against Longtime Friend Larry David 

Maher’s unexpected praises for Trump soon drew criticism from all sides. However, the comedian doubled down on his decision to see the number 1 citizen of the White House, explaining that he used the opportunity to tell him things he never heard. 

The 70-year-old TV host also revealed that they had addressed their 2012 conflict when he likened Trump’s father to an orangutan. 

While appearing to sort out his differences with the president, Maher didn't hesitate to challenge critics, even when the criticism came from his long-time friend and colleague Larry David.

As The Blast previously reported, David had written a satirical essay about Trump, comparing him to Adolf Hitler. Maher quickly weighed in on it, admitting the piece was "not my favorite moment in our friendship" as he felt embarrassed by it. 

Bill Maher And Jimmy Kimmel's Friendship Ruined over Political Differences 

Maher’s stance on Trump has also seemed to come between his friendship with Jimmy Kimmel.

As reported by The Blast, Maher recently confessed that Kimmel was mad at him before hinting that their different political beliefs may have caused it. 

Maher criticized what he sees as growing intolerance on parts of the political left, saying he doesn't fully align with either side and refuses to conform to ideological expectations. 

While he didn’t exactly say the cause of the tension, he had previously slammed Kimmel’s wife for cutting ties with close relatives who supported Trump.