Bill Maher Sends Blunt Donald Trump Warning to New Skydance Bosses Amid Merger

Michelle Stein October 3, 2026, 10:04 am

Bill Maher, Donald Trump — Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

What To Know

Bill Maher addressed the recent Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merger, humorously warning his new corporate bosses not to believe Donald Trump’s social media criticisms about him.
Donald Trump mocked Maher’s ratings on Truth Social, claiming his show is struggling and advising Republicans not to use Maher as a sounding board.
Maher directly responded to Trump’s insults on his show, dismissing the attacks and making a pointed joke referencing a recent Cornell University controversy.

Bill Maher sent a blunt warning about President Donald Trump to his new bosses amid the merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery forming Skydance. He also issued a direct message to the POTUS’ latest social media rant on his ratings.

On Friday, October 2, the Real Time With Bill Maher host, 70, warned his new bosses they shouldn’t believe everything Trump, 80, says about him.

“Finally, big news for us — and when I say us, I mean you people who are here every week with me — the merger went through,” Maher explained. “You know that? Paramount now owns Warner Discovery, which owns HBO, which owns my ass. So I am owned by – I don’t know. You know what? Whoever does, whoever owns me now, don’t believe what Trump is tweeting about me.”

On Monday, the POTUS once again took aim at Maher’s ratings in a Truth Social post.

“Bill Maher’s ratings are so low that it is hard to believe his show can continue,” Trump wrote. “In many ways it’s SAD because, in actuality, I like him. Republicans should stop using him as a sounding board, however. It makes them look sooo weak and foolish!”

However, Maher pushed back with a direct response to the president.

“You know what, Mr. President? Your insults don’t bother me,” the stand-up comedian declared. “Make up whatever s*** you want about me. Just don’t mention I went to Cornell.”

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That last jab was a reference to a lawsuit recently filed by a former student at Cornell University after she was allegedly sexually assaulted by several men at fraternity house in 2024.

Friday wasn’t the first time Maher has exchanged harsh words with Trump on Real Time. Last week, he suggested that the president knew a lot about being an “arch-criminal.” Maher also recently blasted Trump for his response to skyrocketing gas prices.

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