Musician Kid Rock arranged a dinner between President Donald Trump and comedian Bill Maher, with UFC CEO Dana White in attendance to help mediate due to the volatile history between Trump and Maher; the meeting, which was surprisingly cordial, highlighted the potential for dialogue despite differing views.
A recent dinner orchestrated by musician Kid Rock featuring President Donald Trump and comedian Bill Maher grabbed headlines. Why? Their tumultuous history. But how did UFC CEO Dana White find himself at this intriguing dinner?
White’s friendship with Trump is no secret—Trump even attended UFC 314 in Miami recently. Yet, White’s connection to the dinner was more through Kid Rock and a past appearance on Maher’s Club Random podcast. It turns out Kid Rock needed a buffer for the potentially explosive encounter.
“Kid Rock is blowing my phone up,” White shared with Fox News. “‘I need some help—I just got Bill Maher and Donald Trump to have dinner together, and if this thing goes south, I don’t want to be there by myself, will you fly out here?’”
Considering Trump’s $5 million lawsuit against Maher in 2013 over an orangutan joke, Kid Rock’s concerns seemed justified. However, despite past animosity, White reports the dinner was surprisingly cordial and he even snagged a unique souvenir.
“When Bill Maher walked into the Oval Office,” White recounted, “he had a list of every name the president called him over the years. It was like 100 names.” Hilarious! Fortunately, Maher had two copies, so both signed it. A keepsake for White’s office.
Maher later addressed this moment on his HBO show Real Time. He brought the list as an icebreaker—it worked! “I wanted him to sign it, which he did,” Maher explained. “With good humor.” Liberal sphincters might’ve tightened at that!
White mostly played the observer during the dinner while Trump and Maher discussed various issues. Surprisingly, it turned out to be a positive experience overall.
“The coolest thing about that meeting,” White noted, “was seeing two guys who haven’t liked each other for a long time sit down and talk.” They discussed agreements and disagreements alike.
Kid Rock and White often say no one leaves a meeting with Trump disliking him. If they claim otherwise? They’re lying.
Though not the main attraction, White enjoyed a humorous exchange with Maher upon arrival at the White House. Known for his casual attire around Trump, White was amused when Maher showed up in a full suit.
“First of all, the president always gets on me for not wearing a suit,” White said. “Bill Maher walks in like ‘no way I’m showing up without one.’” Maher teased White’s casual look as being from the "Zelenskyy collection." Funny stuff!
The conversation between Trump and Maher was smart and engaging. Kid Rock and White mostly sat back and let them have their moment.
Post-dinner, Maher admitted leaving with a different impression of Trump than what he sees on TV or social media—but that doesn’t mean he’s aligned politically now.
White echoed similar sentiments but emphasized that getting those two together might bridge ideological gaps that sniping through media never could.
“That’s what needs to happen,” White concluded. “People with opposing views should meet, talk, disagree.”
It’s okay to disagree! You won’t always agree with friends, family—or certainly not the President of the United States. But it doesn’t mean you have to hate each other.