Trump slams Bill Maher, calls White House dinner a 'total waste of time'

Former President Donald Trump launched a new round of criticism at Bill Maher on Saturday, nearly a year after the HBO host dined with him at the White House.

Trump, writing on Truth Social, took aim at Maher following the comedian’s recent jokes about Trump, including a remark about Canada and hockey.

“Sometimes in life you waste time! T.V. Host Bill Maher asked to have dinner with me through one of his friends… He was extremely nervous, had ZERO confidence in himself and, to soothe his nerves, immediately… asked for a ‘Vodka Tonic,’” Trump wrote. 

“In one respect, it was somewhat endearing! Anyway, we had a great dinner, it was quick, easy, and he seemed to be a nice guy… But in any event, it was a total waste of time for me to have this jerk at the White House.”

Trump also criticized Maher’s response to a joking comment he made about China eliminating ice hockey in Canada.

“Maher went on and on about the Hockey statement… as though I were being serious. 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 added.

The former president compared Maher to other late-night hosts, calling him a “highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT” while acknowledging he is “slightly more talented” than Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, or Stephen Colbert.

The dinner took place in April of last year and was arranged by musician Kid Rock, a longtime Trump supporter. 

At the time, Maher described the meeting as positive, calling Trump “gracious and measured” and noting he was “more self-aware than he lets on in public.”

“I still don’t have a good feeling about the Trump administration and will be critical about a lot of what he’s doing… But I also think he now understands that I have a job to do,” Maher said following the visit.

A spokesperson for Maher did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s latest remarks.