Kid Rock disputes Bill Maher's sobriety at White House

Bill Maher told a national television audience that he was not noticeably drunk during a White House dinner. Kid Rock, seated nearby on the set, immediately challenged that assessment. The exchange occurred on a recent episode of the HBO talk show Real Time, where Maher was addressing comments made by President Donald Trump on Truth Social.

Maher attended the dinner last month alongside Kid Rock and ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith. On October 25, Trump posted a critique of the event. In the post, the president labeled Maher a slob and a pothead. Trump alleged that Maher was very nervous and very insecure, leading him to ask for a drink. He also claimed Maher was walking around the White House with alcohol in his hand. The president suggested the comedian was against the war in Iran, a point Maher disputed on air by showing video clips of his support for the intervention.

Maher argued that Trump mishandled the timing of his criticism. The comedian noted that the president described the gathering as lasting two hours, while Maher stated the event actually ran for four. He asked Kid Rock to confirm the duration. Kid Rock, whose full name is Robert James Ritchie, agreed that it was four hours, though he mentioned he had to leave early.

The conversation shifted to Maher's state during the event. Maher insisted he was not drunk. Kid Rock countered that the comedian had been pretty high. He asked Maher directly if he was not pretty high, to which Maher replied that they had a good time. Maher then asked why anyone could not take a joke, ending the specific debate over the duration of the party.

The timeline of the dispute began with the dinner itself last month. Trump's social media post followed on October 25. Maher addressed the comments on his show after that date. The specific exchange between the two men took place on the set of Real Time, where they reviewed the president's claims side by side.