Bill Maher’s Shocking Truth About Larry David: Is Their Friendship Over Forever?

Bill Maher has confirmed a rift with longtime friend and collaborator Larry David following a public fallout over Maher's controversial meeting with former President Donald Trump. The host of HBO's Real Time discussed this significant shift in their relationship during an interview with Maya Sulkin for The Free Press on December 22. When asked if his outspoken views have affected his friendships, Maher replied bluntly, “F**k yeah.”

Maher specifically mentioned that “Larry David certainly is not really my friend anymore,” highlighting the strain in their relationship. The tension escalated after David, the creator of Curb Your Enthusiasm and a co-creator of Seinfeld, penned a satirical piece for The New York Times titled “My Dinner With Adolf,” in which he mocked Maher's dinner with Trump—an encounter Maher described as “gracious.”

Following the fallout, Maher noted that he had not spoken with David since the essay's publication and revealed that he aired his perspective on Real Time shortly thereafter. “I put him in my last editorial right before Thanksgiving,” he added, indicating that no outreach had occurred from David’s side either. Maher expressed surprise at David's remarks but believed he delivered a strong response on his show.

During the final episode of Real Time in 2025, Maher addressed the criticism he faced for dining with Trump, responding to what he described as “people who got all butt-hurt” about the meeting. He noted that the hyperbolic comparisons of Trump to historical tyrants were “so unhelpful and dumb.” In a pointed moment, Maher reminisced about how he had previously invited David to join him on the show, only to hear David insist, “I’m not smart enough about politics to do your show.” Maher quipped, “Yeah, I get that now.”

In addition to his fallout with David, Maher disclosed that he also faced backlash from late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after publicly critiquing Kimmel's wife, Molly McNearney, for her stance on severing ties with relatives who voted for Trump. “All I did was quote something his wife said publicly,” Maher clarified, emphasizing that he aimed to stay respectful and not take cheap shots.

Maher further addressed the matter on his podcast, stating, “I’m sorry. I mean, I was being, again, as respectful as I could, but I don’t agree with that point of view. And since she went public with it, it wasn’t out of school for me to go public with it. I love Jimmy. I always have. I don’t know him that well, but he’s a great guy.”

This public acknowledgment of schisms in Maher’s friendships highlights the polarizing nature of political discourse in America today. As comedians and public figures grapple with the implications of their statements and actions, the fallout from Maher’s dinner with Trump serves as a reminder of how deeply personal and professional relationships can be affected by differing political ideologies.