Trump tells Bill Maher not to call after row over TV criticism and polls

Donald Trump has told Bill Maher not to call him again, attacking the television host in a lengthy Truth Social post after Maher discussed the president’s approval ratings on his show. The dispute follows a White House dinner that Trump had described as “great” — but the dinner was on 15 October, ten days before Sunday’s post, not the previous night.

Maher discussed the dinner on Friday’s *Real Time*, saying he enjoyed such meetings despite his criticism of Trump. Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith and musician Kid Rock had also attended. Trump’s post on 25 October called Maher a “COMPLETE AND TOTAL LOSER”, accused him of using “Fake Polls” and ended: “Bill: Don’t call anymore.” He also alleged that the programme used a “Laugh Machine” to make its jokes seem funnier.

Trump disputed the suggestion that his ratings were low, claiming a recent CNN poll showed him at 98 and 99 per cent support among Republicans. CNN’s own discussion of a poll on 21 October put approval of his presidency at 74 per cent among Republican respondents and 32 per cent among all respondents. A separate ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll found 33 per cent approval among US adults. Trump did not specify the CNN question behind his figures; support and approval may measure different things.

The dinner’s duration is disputed too: Maher said it lasted four hours, while Trump said two hours or less. Whatever they agreed over the meal, their public accounts of it have now diverged sharply.