Bill Maher doesn’t think things are looking good for President Donald Trump. His comments were made during the Monday episode of his Club Random podcast. While speaking with actor Michael Douglas, the host noted that he doesn’t believe Trump or his colleagues stand a chance in the midterm elections. “I think he’s cooked,” Maher said.
The episode was recorded before Maher had his second much-publicized dinner with Trump at the White House last week. He was split between praise and criticism of the president throughout the conversation. Trump hosted a four-hour White House dinner on October 15, 2026, with Maher, sports analyst Stephen A. Smith, and musician Kid Rock, describing the meeting as a “great” and “informative” dinner with “smart people.”
Trump and Maher have a complex history. Last week’s dinner came more than a year after Trump and Maher’s March 2025 meeting. Maher was faced with public backlash for participating. Trump later said the meeting was a “waste” of time, per USA Today. Maher received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts this summer. At the time, then-White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said reports that Maher would be honored were “fake news.” Trump said despite Maher and the others’ criticism of him at times, he enjoyed their visit. “Even though they have to put on a certain little facade for their people, they like Trump, and I actually like them,” Trump said.
During the podcast episode, Maher recalled being “hysterical” about Trump when he first became president, but in retrospect, things haven’t been as catastrophic for him and some others as he expected. “It’s been 10 years, let’s be honest — our lives are good,” Maher said. “He didn’t f–– end the world.” Still, he says liberals have “good reason” to be worried.
“He’s a maniac who does fascist things and pals [around with] dictators and you know, that kind of s––,” Maher said. “And ICE and just scary s––!”
Douglas says things are worse than he’s ever experienced courtesy of Trump and co, noting he has a “fascist mentality,” before adding he doesn’t like the “unpredictability” of Trump’s time in office. “Truthfully, I was born in 1944, and this is the worst time I can remember in my lifetime. Not just the states, but worldwide,” Douglas said. At another point in the conversation, Maher recalled laughing when Trump thought he was going to “go MAGA” after their first White House supper in 2025.