Bill Maher Mounts Bizarre Defense of ‘Fascistic’ Trump

HBO Bill Maher has called fear of Donald Trump’s presidency “hysterical.” The comedian, 70, said on his Club Random podcast that Democrats’ early anxiety about Trump , 80, was overwrought.

Maher includes himself in that analysis, clarifying, “Nobody was more alarmed” than he was about Trump’s election.

Maher , who has an estimated net worth of more than $140 million, said that, midway through Trump’s second term, he’s living a nice life.

“I used the term ‘slow-moving coup’ before he was elected the first time, and I was way out front on, ‘he’s never going to concede elections,’” Maher said.

“But I gotta say, after all is said and done, it’s been 10 years.

Let’s be honest, our lives are good.

He didn’t f---ing end the world.” While things may be good for Maher, Trump’s war with Iran has sent gas and diesel prices to record highs.

The current average price for a gallon of diesel is $6.31 nationally, according to AAA Fuel Prices , while gasoline is at around $4.24 a gallon.

Cost-of-living pressures, including inflation, have also risen during Trump’s second term.

In December 2024, during President Joe Biden’s last full month in office, inflation stood at 2.9 percent year over year.

That figure is now at 3.7 percent.

Maher then tried to mitigate his earlier statement by adding that the hysteria was “for good reason.” “You know, he is a maniac who does fascistic things,” he said, adding that the president “pals around with dictators and that kind of s--- and ICE and just scary s---.” Trump hosted Maher, MAGA rapper Kid Rock, and sports commentator Stephen A.

Smith for dinner at the White House on October 15.

Maher also had dinner with Trump in 2025; afterward, he called the president “ gracious and measured .” Since then, their relationship has veered into the online on-again, off-again dynamic typical of the Trump administration.