Bill Maher Sends Direct Message to Donald Trump’s ‘Fake Laughing Machine’ Accusation

Bill Maher
Stefanie Keenan/VF25/WireImage for Vanity Fair

What To Know

  • Bill Maher responded to President Trump’s accusation that he uses a “fake laughing machine” on Real Time With Bill Maher.
  • Maher addressed Trump’s criticism of his ratings and mocked the president’s own approval numbers.
  • The exchange is part of a series of jabs between Maher and Trump.

Bill Maher just sent a direct message to President Donald Trump after the POTUS accused him of having a “fake laughing machine” on Real Time With Bill Maher.

On the Friday, June 5 episode of the late-night CBS show, Maher, 70, took aim at Trump, 79, after the president targeted him in another Truth Social post. Trump slammed both Maher and a former Late Show host in the rant, calling the former “Low Ratings Bill Maher and his Fake ‘Laughing Machine,'” and the latter “REALLY DUMB Stephen Colbert of CBS.”

“I can always tell when the president is in a bad mood because he starts tweeting about me,” Maher pointed out during his opening monologue. “I feel it’s an honor to always be in his tweets, even when they are bad—and they are always bad.”

The stand-up comedian continued, “This week, he said I was ‘low ratings Bill Maher with his fake laughing machine.’ First of all, low ratings? Yours is 35%. And fake laughing machine, can we get a shot of our audience?”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Real Time with Bill Maher (@realtimers)

That’s when the shot cut to stock footage of audience members clapping (including a black-and-white clip and a cartoon segment), poking fun at the allegation. Maher then joked, “There, that should settle that.”

Later during Friday’s episode of Real Time — during his “New Rule” segment — Maher brought up Trump’s insult again after making a joke about former President Joe Biden and AI thinking for people. “Fake laughing machine,” he said, following a moment of enthusiastic laughter and clapping from the audience.

The POTUS and Maher have exchanged jabs frequently during this season of Real Time With Bill Maher, particularly regarding their March 2025 dinner at the White House.

Real Time With Bill Maher, Fridays at 10/9c, HBO




Conversation3 Comments

Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.

Register or sign in to join the conversation.

  1. T

    Tante

    We shall all be thrilled when we have a leader who doesn't stoop so low as to act out pettiness and vengefulness to each and every non-sycophant. It's beyond embarrassing.

    1. A

      Aguest

      “We shall all”. No speak for yourself and those like minded to you. Millions of us respect and appreciate the President for defending himself against the attacks. And Maher proved the sum total of nothing showing a clip of his live audience. Allot of shows ( maybe his to) use laughing machines to Boost the laughter. Studio audiences aren’t very large so a laugh machine would enhance the volume to make it seem like a larger audience. And You and those who think like you might be embarrassed by the President but millions and millions of us are not. And Bill pulled his poll number of the President out of thin air Or some slanted liberal left polling site. So that’s not impressive. Bill likes bashing Anyone that he thinks will make Him look good. He just bashed very heavily on Joe Biden. Bill loves to dish it out just not to great at Taking it.

      1. T

        Trump

        "Bill loves to dish it out just not to great at Taking it." lol, wtf. The same thing could be said about you, Aguest. lol. Fox has even reported on Trump's low polling numbers. Get over it and cry more, will you.