Donald Trump, Bill Maher and Gavin Newsom clashed again on 1 May in Los Angeles when a tense interview on HBO'sReal Time with Bill Maherprompted Trump to revive his long-running feud with the comedian and attack the California governor online within hours.
The latest clash followed Newsom's in-studio appearance onReal Time, where Maher pressed the Democrat on his confrontational political style and his decision to sue Fox News. The interview was already generating headlines before Trump intervened, in part because Maher and Newsom have typically been closer allies than adversaries and rarely appear at odds in public.
The segment turned sharper when Maher suggested Newsom was edging into Trump territory. Raising the governor's high‑profile media battles and online persona, Maher told him that among the politicians who might one day seek the White House, Newsom was 'the one who kind of imitates his style with the trolling' and pointed to his lawsuit against Fox as an example.
Donald Trump Reignites Bill Maher Feud as Comedian Pulls Gavin Newsom Into Late-Night Crossfirehttps://t.co/5xLwNlJbbVpic.twitter.com/smMb9TQBEq
Newsom answered that 'Fox better look to settle right now or apologise for defamation,' a line that prompted Maher to remark that it sounded 'exactly' like Trump's own habit of suing media organisations.
It was an uncomfortable exchange, not least because Maher has long cast himself as a liberal sceptic of Trump while often giving Newsom a comparatively friendly platform. This time, he challenged the governor's reliance on social media theatrics and combative rhetoric, questioning whether the tactics he criticises in Trump are now being mirrored by Democrats who say they oppose him.
Newsom did not retreat from the charge. He argued that his tone and tactics are deliberate, saying he is 'trying to put a mirror up to Donald Trump' and to 'reflect that reality and express the absurdity of all of this.' It was an attempt to present his confrontational posture as commentary on Trumpism rather than imitation of it, though Maher's visible unease suggested he felt the distinction was narrowing.
If there was any doubt that Trump was watching, it did not last long. After the programme aired, the president used social media to mock both Maher and Newsom, reframing the HBO interview as proof that Maher is weak and that Newsom went unchallenged.
In one post, Trump claimed Maher had been 'eaten up' by 'Gavin Newscum' and insisted the host 'never challenged him, not even a little bit.' He then pivoted to Maher's audience figures, declaring that his 'Ratings SUCK!' and expanding the critique to conservative outlets that occasionally invite Maher on air.
🚨Trump fires off at Bill Maher over his exchange with Newsom, saying Maher didn’t push back and blasting his ratings.He’s not holding back.Media and politics colliding again.This one’s getting loud.pic.twitter.com/gML3mzVg2G
Source: International Business Times UK
