Trump Hails 'Informative' White House Dinner with Critics Maher, Smith, and Kid Rock

Key points

• Trump hosted a second White House dinner with Bill Maher, Kid Rock, and Stephen A. Smith on Thursday.
• Trump described the dinner as 'informative' and claimed the guests secretly like him despite public criticisms.
• The group discussed topics including HBCU funding, the Iran war, and anti-socialism.
• The group toured the White House ballroom under construction.
• This follows previous public feuds, particularly between Trump and Maher, and Smith's recent criticism of the president.

Background

This is the second White House dinner between Trump and Maher, following a previous meeting last year. Trump and Smith have had a seemingly up-and-down relationship of late, with Trump previously calling Smith 'dumb as a rock' after Smith blamed the New York Knicks' Game 3 loss in the NBA Finals on the president's attendance. Trump is currently in the middle of his campaign blitz ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

How outlets are covering it

Awful Announcing and TV Insider emphasize the bipartisan nature of the dinner, with Kid Rock describing it as 'epic' and noting 'two Democrats, two Republicans' at the table. Deadline highlights Trump's claim that Maher 'likes me a lot more than people understand,' contrasting with Trump's previous public insults of Maher on Truth Social. Awful Announcing notes that Smith has had a 'seemingly up-and-down relationship' with Trump, while TV Insider notes that Maher has not yet publicly commented on the dinner.

Why it matters

The dinner signals a potential shift in Trump's relationships with prominent critics, particularly as he prepares for the 2026 midterm elections. It also highlights the ongoing tensions between Trump and figures like Maher and Smith, who have publicly criticized him in the past.

What to watch

Smith has teased that he plans to share more about the dinner on his political show, Straight Shooter. Viewers will likely hear from Maher about the dinner on the October 23 episode of Real Time With Bill Maher.