"It's kind of a Nixon-to-China thing": Bill Maher talks about being invited to Trump's White House for a dinner

Comedian and writer Bill Maher has reportedly been invited to a dinner at the White House with Donald Trump. On March 28, 2025, while speaking with journalist Chris Cuomo, Maher discussed his reasons for accepting the dinner invitation.

Nonetheless, he hoped that the dinner could be the right step. When Cuomo asked why he accepted the invitation, the comedian said:

“Maybe this is a beginning to heal America. No, I don't have some sort of complex where I think I can heal America. I can’t okay! Let's get that clear. I am not going to be healing America but if two guys who have been at each other for so long I mean, it's kind of a Nixon to China thing.”

Bill Maher expressed that he has a strong track record of criticizing Trump and was among the first to predict he wouldn’t willingly leave office. He believed this gave him credibility, but he also earned respect for openly addressing what he saw as "woke" culture. While acknowledging that his stance has cost him fans, he accepted the trade-off, believing it added to his authenticity. However, he said:

“First of all, it's an honor to be invited to the White House. And I have already had a couple of people who I said to them you know I'm just going to take it as a backhanded compliment that you glide right past the idea that little Bill Maher from Rivervale New Jersey just a humble kid from the suburbs was invited for a private dinner to the White House.”

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Bill Maher said it was Kid Rock who wanted him to meet the President

Bill Maher explained that the purpose of the dinner is to have open, face-to-face conversations instead of arguing from a distance. He made it clear that he had no intention of changing his views, but he also didn't expect that from others.

While he admitted the discussion might not lead to significant change, he believes it's important to make the effort at least. On March 24, 2025, Bill Maher sat down with comedian Andrew Schulz on his Club Random Podcast, where he told Schulz:

“Kid Rock was here a couple of weeks ago and he said, "I want you to meet Trump." He said, "I'm going to take you to the White House." So now we are going to do that.”

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On March 29, 2025, Gavin Newsom was interviewed on the Real Time with Bill Maher show, where Maher talked about platforming. Maher was surprised that simply talking to someone with different views is seen as controversial, with some labeling it platforming.

He believed society is split between those who want to dominate the other side and those who seek understanding. Gavin Newsom agreed, saying the idea that people can’t even have conversations across political divides is harmful.

Newsom emphasized the importance of engaging with differing perspectives to find common ground rather than just staying in an echo chamber or trying to sabotage the other side.