HBO's prominent host Bill Maher has launched a scathing critique against former President Donald Trump for engaging in a social media tirade targeting him while the United States was actively involved in military tensions with Iran. Maher, aged 70, expressed bewilderment and disapproval as Trump, 79, diverted attention from critical wartime updates to post a barrage of abusive messages directed at the comedian.
Timing of Trump's Posts Draws Sharp Rebuke
Around 9 a.m. on Friday, President Trump made a significant post stating that the U.S. would continue bombing Iran until the Middle Eastern nation conceded. However, Maher highlighted on his show that merely an hour later, Trump shifted focus entirely, publishing eight consecutive posts about the HBO host. "I'm not joking, an hour later," Maher emphasised, noting that Trump returned to discussing the war only after another fifteen-minute interval.
Content of the Social Media Onslaught
In his Truth Social posts, Trump shared links to news articles where he had previously labelled Maher a "jerk" and asserted that the comedian possessed "ZERO confidence in himself." Additionally, Trump criticised Maher's television programme, dismissing their past White House dinner as a "waste of time." Maher responded with humour, quipping, "Thank God I didn't spend the night," in reference to the presidential encounter.
Maher's Confusion and Conditional Support
Expressing confusion over the sudden barrage, Maher described the situation as "getting weird." He reiterated that he remains one of the few individuals on Trump's perceived enemies list who still offers support, albeit conditionally. "Sort of, we'll see," Maher stated, clarifying that he currently tolerates the president's antics but would withdraw his backing if Trump deployed "boots on the ground" in Iran.
Historical Tensions Between the Figures
The friction between Maher and Trump spans years, notably including a 2013 lawsuit where Trump sued the comedian for $5 million over a joke made on The Tonight Show. Maher had jestingly offered to donate the sum to charity if Trump could prove he was not the "spawn of his mother having sex with an orangutan." Trump later withdrew the lawsuit, but animosity persisted.
Recent Exchanges and Accusations
In February of this year, Maher dedicated a one-minute segment on his show to critique Trump's Truth Social post about Canada allegedly treating the U.S. unfairly and seeking a deal with China. Trump had written, "The first thing China will do is terminate all ice hockey," prompting Maher to exclaim, "What the f**k is he talking about?" He expressed frustration at being unable to decipher Trump's logic.
Hours later, Trump retaliated with a lengthy post, labelling Maher's show as "very boring" and "anti-Trump." Maher fired back, comparing the dynamic to unwanted expectations after a dinner date and accusing Trump of suffering from "Bill Maher Derangement Syndrome." He asserted, "I may be the last person from the lunatic left that is still an honest broker when it comes to you... It's a shame you can't take criticism."
Maher's Final Verdict on the Syndrome
During his New Rules segment on Friday, Maher firmly denied having Trump Derangement Syndrome, instead attributing the condition to Trump himself. He joked about the president's tendency to fabricate details when angered, stating, "I don't know how they got in there. It's not like the president to just make things up when he's mad." This ongoing feud underscores the volatile intersection of entertainment, politics, and social media in contemporary discourse.
