In a headline-grabbing move, comedian and liberal commentator Bill Maher has accepted President Donald Trump’s invitation to a private dinner at the White House, calling it a chance to “begin to heal America” after years of political division and public clashes between the two.
The surprising gesture marks a moment of rare civility between two high-profile figures who have often been on opposite ends of the cultural and political battlefield.
Maher: “Maybe This Is a Beginning”
Speaking candidly about his decision, Maher compared the moment to a geopolitical breakthrough.
“Maybe this is a beginning to heal America,” Maher said. “It’s kind of a Nixon-to-China thing. If two guys who’ve been at each other for so long can sit down and talk, maybe there’s hope.”
Though he’s been a relentless critic of Trump over the years, Maher said that sitting down with the President is part of what a functioning democracy should look like—talking to those you disagree with instead of shutting them out.
No Apologies, Just Dialogue
Maher didn’t sugarcoat his record.
“There was nobody who was harder on Trump than I was,” he said. But he also pointed out that he’s been just as critical of the radical Left, which he refers to as “the woke train to crazy town.”
For Maher, this isn’t about agreeing with Trump—it’s about restoring sanity and civil discourse in a country increasingly torn apart by partisan rage.
An Unexpected Alliance?
Though the private dinner hasn’t happened yet, Maher said he’s honored by the invitation and sees it as a step toward something better.
“I’m impressed the f* out of it,”** he said of the invite. “I get to go to the White House. Let’s talk to each other face to face.”
He acknowledged that the meeting may not change much, but insisted that trying is better than staying in our corners.
“It probably will accomplish very little,” Maher admitted, “but you gotta try, man. You gotta try.”
A Sign of the Times
The Trump-Maher dinner is shaping up to be more than a headline—it could symbolize a cultural shift away from knee-jerk tribalism and toward a more serious, thoughtful kind of politics. Whether or not the meeting leads to anything concrete, it sends a powerful message:
In an era of division, talking is still better than shouting.
Liberal comedian Bill Maher ahead of his dinner with President Trump: “I’m honest about the woke train to crazy town and I don’t shrink from that…. It’s an honor to be invited to the White House.”pic.twitter.com/oo5wyHiScI
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) March 28, 2025