Comedian Patton Oswalt Criticizes Bill Maher’s Approach to Trump

Comedian Patton Oswalt expressed criticism toward “Real Time” host Bill Maher for what he described as Maher’s efforts to “placate” President Donald Trump. Oswalt believes Maher’s attempts to find common ground with Trump would eventually make him a target.

“The reason Trump is turning on Bill Maher is because Bill tried to, I’m sure with good intentions, placate him and you can’t do that with him,” Oswalt told SiriusXM host Dean Obeidallah. He contrasted Maher’s approach with those of anti-Trump hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert.

Oswalt commented, “Colbert and Kimmel… Trump hates them, but he hates them because they don’t love him. He wants them to love him, and then the minute they love him, he has zero respect for them because, deep down, he hates himself.” He emphasized the importance of sticking to one’s beliefs and the potential consequences of dealing with Trump.

“You just have to stick with your guns and just go, ‘Yeah, this guy sucks.’ In the long run, it will pay out, and anyone who does business with Trump, you would just think basic greed would make you want to defy him, because anyone that does business with him, you get destroyed!”

Oswalt’s remarks reference a February incident when Trump criticized Maher on Truth Social after the HBO host’s occasional anti-Trump rhetoric following a dinner between them at the White House the previous year. Trump reacted specifically to Maher’s comments mocking him about China and Canada’s economic ties affecting hockey.

Trump labeled his dinner with Maher a “waste [of] time,” accusing Maher of being nervous at their meeting and criticizing his show and ratings. Maher responded, stating, “He was very mad at me because I didn’t get his joke about how China is gonna make Canada give up hockey.” Maher defended his actions, explaining he never stopped criticizing Trump.

“[Trump] went off on me and said the dinner we had was a waste of time. Well, I didn’t think it was,” Maher said about Trump’s criticisms. Despite the criticisms from Trump, Maher maintained his stance on Trump’s presidency.

Fox News Digital sought a comment from representatives for Maher’s “Real Time” show but received no immediate response.