Trump Dines with Critics Maher, Smith, and Kid Rock at White House

Key points

• Trump hosted a dinner on Thursday with Bill Maher, Stephen A. Smith, and Kid Rock.
• Trump described the evening as 'informative' and claimed the guests secretly like him.
• The group toured the White House ballroom under construction.
• This marks the second dinner between Trump and Maher, following a previous meeting last year.
• Kid Rock called the gathering 'epic' and said the group agreed on opposing socialism and communism.

Background

This is the second dinner between Trump and Maher, following a previous meeting last year. Trump had previously criticized Smith in June 2026, calling him a 'low IQ individual' and 'arrogant fool' after Smith criticized Trump's decision to attend a New York Knicks game. Maher had previously described Trump as 'a person who plays a crazy person on TV' after their first dinner.

How outlets are covering it

The New York Post emphasized Trump's claim that the guests secretly like him and the tour of the White House ballroom. Fox News highlighted Kid Rock's description of the dinner as 'epic' and the group's agreement on opposing socialism and communism. The Daily Beast focused on Maher's 'hot-and-cold' relationship with Trump, noting the dinner occurred just weeks after Trump criticized him in a Truth Social post. Fox News also noted the political diversity of the group, with Kid Rock as a Trump supporter, Maher as a liberal critic, and Smith as a politically inconsistent commentator.

Why it matters

The dinner highlights Trump's willingness to engage with critics and opponents, as he is one of the few major politicians in 2026 who regularly sits down with people who openly disagree with him. It also underscores the complex and evolving relationships between Trump and public figures like Maher and Smith, who have been critical of him in the past.

What to watch

Smith is expected to address the dinner on his podcast on Friday night. Fox News predicted he will downplay the chummy nature of the gathering and stress that attending dinner with Trump does not mean he supports him. Maher is expected to provide a straightforward account of the evening.