Oswalt Slams Maher for Trying to ‘Placate’ Trump
Comedian Patton Oswalt criticized Bill Maher for trying to appease President Trump, arguing the approach failed as evidenced by Trump's attacks on Maher following their White House dinner.
Speaking with SiriusXM host Dean Obeidallah this week, Oswalt argued that Maher’s conciliatory approach was destined to fail, as New York Post reports. The comedian suggested Trump’s recent attacks on Maher prove that seeking common ground with the president is futile.
The reason that Trump is turning on Bill Maher is because Bill tried to placate him, Oswalt explained, contrasting Maher’s strategy with the consistently hostile stance taken by late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert.
Oswalt elaborated on what he sees as Trump’s psychology, arguing the president craves approval from his critics but ultimately loses respect for anyone who provides it. He warned that collaborating with Trump inevitably leads to being discarded, citing the president’s track record in business dealings.
White House Dinner Turns Sour
The comments appear linked to a February incident when Trump publicly attacked Maher on Truth Social following their dinner at the White House last year. Despite the face-to-face meeting, Maher continued his occasional criticism of the administration, according to New York Post.
Trump specifically targeted Maher over mockery of his suggestion that China would force Canada to abandon hockey as the nations strengthen economic ties. The president called their dinner a waste of time and accused Maher of appearing nervous during their meeting, while dismissing his show’s ratings.
Maher defended himself against the presidential broadside, stating Trump was upset because the comedian never stopped criticizing him despite their meeting. The HBO host maintained he never promised to soften his commentary.
Fox News Digital contacted representatives for “Real Time” seeking comment but received no immediate response.
With information from New York Post
