Bill Maher Claps Back at Larry David’s “Childish” Critique, Defends Dining with Trump

In the closing episode of Season 23 of Real Time, Bill Maher once more addressed criticisms from Larry David while justifying his decision to dine with President Donald Trump.

Maher touched on the topic of alienating family members over MAGA support, then shifted to discuss his own experiences. He had previously dismissed disapproval of his meal with the Republican leader, which had been mocked by comedian Larry David in a New York Times op-ed called “My Dinner with Hitler.” Maher retorted by calling the article “insulting,” later remarking that the term “Nazi” lacks subtlety when used in such contexts.

During the show, Maher expressed frustration, stating, “It’s so immature, so entirely emotional — the people upset because I dined with him. As if he’s Hitler. But he’s not. It’s counterproductive and foolish. Trump has arguably been the most supportive president towards Israel and Jewish people ever.” (While Trump has indeed supported Israel, he has also faced accusations of antisemitism concerning his comments on Gaza and has been criticized by Jewish organizations for inappropriate remarks.)

Maher went on to say, “Every year, I invited Larry David to appear on Real Time and he would decline, saying, ‘Bill, I just don’t know enough about politics for your show.’ Now I understand why.”

Maher continued his diatribe by comparing the Democrats’ refusal to engage with Trump to high school cliquishness, likening it to excluding someone from their “lunch table.”

“You are not serious people,” he quipped, echoing Brian Cox’s character Logan Roy from HBO’s Succession.

He added, “What’s the argument here? That by speaking with Trump I’m somehow elevating him? Oh please, don’t tell me he could become president. Oh, and look—[NYC Mayor-elect Zohran] Mamdani went to the White House today, and they seem to be getting along, right?”

Pointing out that Trump bases his decisions on personal relationships as he is a “people person,” Maher encouraged similar engagements.

“If anything, we need more folks like me having dinner with him. You complain he’s only surrounded by yes-men, yet your strategy ensures only yes-men are around him? You are not serious people,” he concluded.

Real Time with Bill Maher is set to return for a new season on January 23.