Bill Maher Criticized for Siding with Trump Over Democrats

The comedian faced backlash for echoing Trump's complaints about Democrats not applauding him during the State of the Union address.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Bill Maher, the host of the HBO show "Real Time," drew criticism for appearing to side with President Donald Trump and attack Democrats in his reaction to Trump's State of the Union address. Maher echoed Trump's complaint that Democrats did not applaud him during the speech, and also referenced a previous monologue where he argued State of the Union addresses should be canceled altogether due to the partisan divide. This is not the first time Maher has faced scrutiny for his interactions with Trump, including a 2025 White House dinner that was widely criticized.

Why it matters

Maher's comments are seen as an attempt to curry favor with Trump, which has drawn accusations of the comedian "sucking up" to the president. This reflects the deep partisan divisions in the country, where even late-night comedians are expected to take sides rather than maintain impartiality. Maher's actions also raise questions about the role of media figures in shaping political discourse and the extent to which they should remain objective.

The details

In his reaction to Trump's State of the Union address, Maher tweeted that the "other side never claps for the other team," echoing Trump's complaint about Democrats not applauding him. Maher had previously argued in a "New Rules" monologue that State of the Union addresses should be canceled altogether due to the partisan divide, where "neither party anymore can even clap for the other one." Maher's comments drew immediate criticism, in part due to his history of what some viewers have seen as sucking up to Trump. In 2025, Maher visited the White House and had dinner with Trump, later praising the president as "gracious and measured" and arguing that his in-person demeanor was different from his public persona.

  • Bill Maher reacted to Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
  • In April 2025, Maher visited the White House and had dinner with President Trump.

The players

Bill Maher

The host of the HBO show "Real Time" who faced criticism for appearing to side with President Trump over Democrats in his reaction to the State of the Union address.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who delivered the State of the Union address that Maher reacted to, and with whom Maher had a controversial dinner at the White House in 2025.

Larry David

A comedian who wrote a satirical piece for The New York Times comparing Maher's dinner with Trump to a fictional 1939 radio host dining with Adolf Hitler.

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What they’re saying

“Trump just said what I said Friday: the other side never claps for the other team, advertising to the world that the state of our nation is HOPELESSLY DIVIDED.”

— Bill Maher, Host, "Real Time" (Twitter)

“Bill Maher is a highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT, and Republicans should stop using him to show how the Left is coming over our way. Our Base, the Greatest of All Time, laughs at your weakness when you do it!”

— Donald Trump (Truth Social)

“I know how women feel now—a guy buys you dinner and then expects you to put out. I'm not that guy.”

— Bill Maher, Host, "Real Time" (Real Time with Bill Maher)

The takeaway

Maher's comments highlight the deep partisan divisions in the country, where even late-night comedians are expected to take sides rather than maintain impartiality. This raises questions about the role of media figures in shaping political discourse and the extent to which they should remain objective, especially when interacting with political figures like President Trump.