Bill Maher Defends Second Trump Dinner, Tells Critics 'F--- You, I Like These Dinners' Comedian Bill Maher used his HBO monologue to fire back at liberal critics over his second White House dinner with President Trump, which also included Stephen A. Smith and Kid Rock. Comedian Bill Maher fired back at liberal critics Friday over his second dinner with President Donald Trump at the White House, using his opening monologue on HBO's Real Time to address the backlash head-on. Maher confirmed the Oct. 15 dinner, which also included sports commentator Stephen A. Smith and musician Kid Rock, and doubled down on his decision to attend. You know what? F--- you. I like these dinners, he said.Maher Dines With Trump And Kid RockYeah, I did it again, Maher said, referring to the meal. That dinner followed his first White House dinner with Trump in April 2025, which also included Kid Rock and UFC CEO Dana White. Trump told reporters last week that he enjoyed the evening. The dinner last night with Kid Rock and Stephen A. Smith and Bill Maher was great, Trump said.I think they had a good time. We talked about everything. It lasted a long time, Trump added. The president also claimed Maher likes me a lot more than people understand.In the days before the meal, Maher had said he would be dining with the president again. I'm having dinner with him again next week, Maher told Hollywood agent and executive Ari Emanuel during a conversation. After the first dinner, I went back to doing what I do, Maher said. But then, like, he just, out of the blue, let's have dinner again.And I was like, great. And he was really nice. Maher also recounted an exchange with Trump. He said Trump told him, I promise I won't say bad things about you like I did the last time.Maher Responds To Trumps Rude BanterMaher replied by text: You know what, you're the president of the United States. Say whatever the f--- you want. I'm just glad we're talking. Maher compared the dynamic to being called a hockey puck by Don Rickles.It's just what he does. It's how he talks, Maher said. The comedian also reflected on his first White House dinner in 2025, telling his audience he may have misjudged the president's demeanor in private. You can hate me for it, but I'm not a liar.Trump was gracious and measured, Maher said in 2025. And why isn't that in other settings? I don't know, and I can't answer, and it's not my place to answer. I'm just telling you what I saw, and I wasn't high, he added.Maher Continues To Criticize Trump PoliciesHowever, Maher has continued to criticize the president. In June, he mocked Trump's Iran deal, saying the president went from demanding unconditional surrender to settling for a memorandum of understanding while the White House touted the framework as a foreign policy win. We got everything we wanted except for everything we asked for, Maher said.Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations, told Fox News Digital that Maher's acknowledgment of his second dinner with Trump was likely the result of a preconceived plan to double down on his attendance. Maher walked in with a plan. His Friday monologue showed it, Mudd said. I said last week that each event guest needs a prepared message in anticipation of public criticism, Mudd said.He added that Maher's willingness to address criticism directly while appearing genuine could help him retain support from fans who object to his relationship with Trump. If Bill Maher were my client, I'd advise him to keep sounding like himself. A host who sounds like a surrogate loses credibility, Mudd said. Maher sounded like Maher, so that risk stays low.Repetition is the next risk, because each new dinner invites the same questions. Comedians win by joking first, not by clarifying, Mudd added. Naming the backlash before his critics do takes much of their power away.