Trump Says He Hosted Bill Maher, Stephen A. Smith and Kid Rock for Dinner

President Donald Trump said he hosted comedian Bill Maher, sports commentator Stephen A. Smith and musician Kid Rock for dinner at the White House on Thursday night. Trump described the evening to reporters on Friday as a success, according to Fox News, which cited C-SPAN's coverage of his remarks.

The dinner is notable mainly because Maher has often criticized the president on his HBO show. Trump said the host likes him more than people realize.

What did Trump say about the dinner?

Speaking to reporters as he left the White House, Trump called the dinner great and said he thought his guests enjoyed themselves. He said the conversation covered everything and went on for a long time, though he did not name specific topics.

He also called the meal informative and described his guests as smart people. Of Smith, he said simply that he is great. Trump added that he actually liked all three men.

Did the guests see anything besides the dining room?

Yes. According to Trump, the group took a short tour of the White House ballroom, where beams are being put up overhead. He gave no further details about the tour.

What did Trump say about Maher in particular?

Trump said Maher "likes me a lot more than people understand," and added that he likes Maher as well. He called it a good dinner. Fox News Digital said it contacted Maher for comment. Fox did not report a response from Maher or from Smith or Kid Rock.

Is this the first time Maher has dined with Trump?

No. Fox News noted that Maher attended a White House dinner with Trump, Kid Rock and UFC CEO Dana White in April 2025. Afterward, Maher told his audience that Trump seemed more self-aware in private than in public. He said at the time that Trump was "gracious and measured" and insisted he was not lying about what he saw.

Maher has continued to criticize the president since then, according to Fox. In June, he mocked Trump's Iran agreement on "Real Time with Bill Maher." More recently, he predicted a heavy defeat for Republicans in the midterm elections and said Trump had made a serious mistake.

Why does it matter that a critic and a president dine together?

The dinner shows how a president and one of his regular media critics can still meet privately, and it may shape how audiences view each of the guests. Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations, told Fox News Digital that a high-profile dinner carries both reputational risks and rewards for every attendee.

Mudd said Maher has a template from April 2025, when he reported what he saw and described it plainly. In Mudd's view, a host who sounds like a surrogate loses the credibility that makes him worth quoting. Mudd also said anyone invited to such an event should decide beforehand what they will say about it, before, during and after the evening.

For viewers and listeners, the practical takeaway is limited. The White House has not released details of the conversation, and Trump's account is the only one reported so far.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by Fox News