• Bill Maher described Donald Trump as 'gracious and measured' during their White House dinner.
• The comedian presented a signed list of insults Trump had previously directed at him.
• Maher highlighted a lack of tension during conversation, contrasting Trump’s private demeanor with his public persona.
• The dinner, arranged by Kid Rock, featured open discussions about various political topics.
• Maher's honest portrayal of Trump has ignited discussions about political discourse and engagement.

Comedian Bill Maher gave an unexpected account of his dinner with President Donald Trump on HBO's "Real Time," expressing surprise at the president's demeanor, which he described as 'gracious and measured.' Maher relayed that he went prepared with a list of nearly 60 insults Trump had previously hurled at him, which he wanted Trump to sign. To his amazement, Trump complied with good humor, and Maher noted that the evening was marked by a relaxed atmosphere, saying, "Everything I’ve not liked about him was, I swear to God, absent." This revelation has caught many off guard, especially given Maher's long-standing criticism of Trump, according to HuffPost.

During the two-and-a-half-hour dinner, Maher engaged in discussions on topics ranging from Trump’s policies to the 2020 election, noting Trump's unexpected admission that he 'lost' the election. "This person exists," Maher reflected on Trump’s openness, which he found lacking in previous encounters with other political leaders, particularly Democrats like Obama and Clinton. He remarked, "I never felt I had to walk on eggshells around him," further emphasizing the comfort level he experienced, according to The Hill.

Maher's account has sparked conversations about civility in political discourse. He suggested that perhaps there is value in engaging in dialogue rather than "hurling insults from 3,000 miles away," reiterating that he met with Trump not for reconciliation but to seek a better understanding. His remarks have divided opinions, with some arguing that meeting with Trump may empower a figure they consider problematic, as voiced by Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin during a heated exchange with Maher on his show, where Rogin accused him of falling into a PR trap, according to HuffPost.

Throughout his monologue, Maher maintained a critical yet open stance toward Trump, admitting the president's private persona differed significantly from public perception. He noted moments of laughter and self-awareness from Trump, stating, "He’s much more self-aware than he lets on in public." This contrasted sharply with Maher's experiences of Trump portrayed in the media, leading him to wonder why Trump doesn’t display such behavior in public, according to Newsweek.

The dinner's revelations and Maher's remarks about Trump underscore the complexities of political engagement in today's polarized climate. He expressed a hope for increased civil discourse, stating unequivocally, "I'm just telling you what I saw, and I wasn't high." These candid reflections have stirred debate among his viewers and the wider public, prompting thoughts about the implications of proximity and engagement across the political divide, according to HuffPost.