Overview

• Bill Maher attended a late-March White House dinner with Donald Trump, arranged by musician Kid Rock, and later described Trump as 'gracious and measured.'
• James Carville, on the April 19 'Politics War Room' podcast, called Maher a 'supremely naive man' for his positive portrayal of Trump following the meeting.
• Al Hunt compared Maher’s assessment to historical instances of leaders being charmed by authoritarian figures, including Adolf Hitler.
• Carville emphasized that Maher’s remarks risk legitimizing Trump, who he described as a habitual liar and a convicted felon.
• Critics argue the backlash against Maher serves as a cautionary example, potentially deterring others from engaging with Trump in a similar manner.