Bill Maher Says Trump Texts Him 'Yelling'

Comedian claims president criticizes him over their contentious relationship.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Comedian Bill Maher revealed that former President Donald Trump frequently texts him 'yelling' and criticizing him, despite the two having a contentious relationship. Maher said Trump calls him 'part of the lunatic left' in their text exchanges.

Why it matters

The ongoing feud between Maher and Trump highlights the deep political divisions in the country, with the former president continuing to lash out at high-profile critics even after leaving office.

The details

In an interview, Maher told CNN's Elex Michaelson that Trump will text him 'yelling' and criticizing him, even after a dinner the two had at the White House last year. Trump later took to Truth Social to call Maher a 'jerk' and say it was a 'total waste of time' to have him at the White House.

  • In an interview released on February 16, 2026, Maher discussed the text messages from Trump.
  • Trump referenced the dinner he had with Maher at the White House in a Truth Social post on February 18, 2026.

The players

Bill Maher

A comedian and host of the HBO show 'Real Time with Bill Maher', who has had a contentious relationship with former President Donald Trump.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States, who has frequently criticized Maher and other high-profile critics.

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What they’re saying

“You're still part of the lunatic left, I see,”

— Donald Trump

“In any event, it was a total waste of time for me to have this jerk at the White House,”

— Donald Trump (Truth Social)

The takeaway

The ongoing feud between Maher and Trump underscores the deep political divisions in the country, with the former president continuing to lash out at high-profile critics even after leaving office. This highlights the challenges of bridging partisan gaps and finding common ground in a highly polarized political climate.