Trump targets Bill Maher in longest-ever Truth Social post

According to CNN’s analysis and the social media tracking firm Factbase, Trump’s post contained 1,323 words. It began by describing Maher as a “complete and total loser” and ended with the president telling the comedian not to contact him again. Factbase said the post was the longest among tens of thousands of Trump’s social media messages recorded since 2011.

The outburst followed Maher’s appearance on his HBO programme, Real Time, after a White House dinner with Trump on 15 October. Although Trump had initially described the dinner positively, his latest post criticised Maher’s programme, challenged comments he had made about the president and complained about the comedian’s treatment of him. Trump also questioned the laughter and applause Maher receives from his studio audience.

In the lengthy message, Trump made several claims about his standing within the Republican Party, asserting that his support was as high as 98 to 99 per cent. However, CNN’s most recent poll cited in its report put Trump’s approval rating among Republicans at 74 per cent, highlighting the difference between support among the broader Republican Party and that among voters who identify specifically with the MAGA movement.

The post also contained a statement with implications for White House press access. Trump said he was considering moving journalists who cover the presidency from their longstanding workspace in the White House to another location, explaining that he wanted to use the existing space for other purposes. The proposal could affect the working arrangements of journalists covering the US president, although no final decision was announced in the post.

Trump’s message was almost twice as long as his previous record post, which contained 723 words and was published in May. The earlier message included complaints about the Kennedy Center, a federal judge, a Supreme Court ruling on tariffs and birthright citizenship. The latest dispute has drawn attention because it centres largely on a personal disagreement with a television comedian rather than a major policy announcement.

The episode comes as the Trump administration faces continuing domestic and international challenges, including the approaching US midterm elections and tensions in the Middle East. The president’s latest comments have renewed attention on his public exchanges with media personalities and critics, while the question of relocating White House journalists remains a separate issue that would require further clarification from the administration.