Bill Maher Gets Defensive With WaPo Reporter Over Trump Meetup: ‘You Don’t Have to Patronize Me, Dude!’

Bill Maher pushed back sharply against criticism from Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin on Friday night, defending his controversial meeting with former President Donald Trump.

On Friday’s edition of Real Time, the host recounted what he called a “gracious and measured” dinner with Trump, Kid Rock, and UFC President Dana White.

Maher surprised many of his loyal viewers by describing Trump as more “self-aware” and less combative in private than his public persona might suggest.

“You can hate me for it, but I’m not a liar,” Maher told his audience. “Trump was gracious and measured. And why isn’t that in other settings? I don’t know, and I can’t answer, and it’s not my place to answer. I’m just telling you what I saw, and I wasn’t high.”

During a panel discussion later in the show, with Piers Morgan, Rogin challenged Maher on the implications of the meeting.

“You’ve played the game of proximity is principle,” Rogin argued, suggesting that Maher’s willingness to sit down with Trump may have inadvertently served Trump. “I think that I represent 99 percent of the internet when I say this.”

Though Rogin prefaced his remarks by expressing his admiration for Maher, the host cut him off.

“You don’t have to patronize me, dude, I don’t know you, I never met you,” Maher fired back. “Not everybody has to like it.”

Maher added, “What is the alternative to not talking? Just sit at your lunch table and don’t talk to anybody?”

After Morgan intervened to praise Maher for walking across the aisle to meet Trump, the host hit Rogin for putting too much stock in what is said on social media.

“The fact that you began your little rant with the internet – that tells me everything,” Maher said. “You take your cues from the internet. Good luck. The internet is a cesspool that just wants to fight.”

Rogin concluded he felt Maher was used by Trump in a “PR stunt.”

Watch above via Real Time with Bill Maher.