Overview

• On his Oct. 13 podcast, Maher said he “can’t deny” President Donald Trump’s success, stressing Trump was not his choice and he did not vote for him.
• Guest William H. Macy agreed and noted “he’s the president,” as the exchange shifted from a discussion of pop music to political effectiveness.
• Maher displayed a framed sheet cataloging 56 insults Trump lobbed at him over the years, which Trump signed during Maher’s White House visit in April.
• The clip circulated widely online, with Sen. Ted Cruz sharing it, and outlets including Fox News and Raw Story highlighting the comments.
• Maher’s remarks align with his earlier assessment that Trump is one of the most effective politicians, attributing that to perceived authenticity.