Bill Maher on Trump’s Second Term: ‘I’m S‑‑‑ting My Pants. … I May Quit’

Comedian and political commentator Bill Maher expressed deep frustration over the prospect of President-elect Donald Trump serving a second term, even suggesting he might quit his show, Real Time with Bill Maher.

Speaking on a podcast alongside actor and activist Jane Fonda, Maher didn’t hold back about his disdain for another Trump presidency.

“I’m s‑‑‑ting my pants,” Maher candidly admitted. “I mean, I may quit because I don’t want to do another — I did Trump. I did all the Trump stuff before anybody.”

Maher emphasized his early critiques of Trump, recalling moments from past shows where he openly labeled Trump as a “conman” and a “Mafia boss.” He also took credit for predicting Trump’s refusal to concede the 2020 election. “I’ve done it,” he stated, underscoring his exhaustion with the subject.

During the discussion, Fonda challenged Maher by pointing out that Trump seems more hostile toward comedian Jimmy Kimmel than he is toward Maher. “Why, then, is he so hostile to Jimmy Kimmel and not to you?” she asked.

Maher quickly retorted, “He’s very hostile to me. He tweets about me every week.” Using air quotes, Maher mocked Trump’s frequent criticism, noting how the president-elect often calls him a “low-ratings loser” while supposedly “accidentally” watching his show. “Every week, he ‘accidentally’ watches my show,” Maher said with a mix of sarcasm and disbelief.

Despite his disdain for Trump’s media dominance, Maher expressed frustration with the inevitability of covering him.

When Fonda suggested that he “find a new thing to do and not do Trump,” Maher dismissed the idea. “The show is the politics. There’s no other thing,” he replied. “And he’s going to dominate the news like he always does.”

Maher’s feelings are complicated by his longstanding career with HBO, where he has built a reputation as one of the network’s most prominent political voices. Earlier this year, he signed a contract extension to keep Real Time with Bill Maher running for two more seasons, through 2026.

The show, which debuted in 2003, has been a platform for Maher’s sharp and often polarizing takes on politics, policy, and culture. Maher has been with HBO for decades, first appearing on the network with a comedy special in 1989.

The comedian’s weariness with Trump isn’t new, but his latest comments reflect a growing frustration with the broader political landscape.

Maher’s critiques of Trump have often gone viral, including his 2016 insistence that Trump was “not going to go quietly” if he lost an election. Over the years, Maher has been outspoken about the dangers he believes Trump poses to democracy, regularly addressing the former president’s influence on American politics.

Fonda, a longtime progressive activist, urged Maher to refocus and find a new direction, but Maher appeared doubtful about the feasibility of that approach.

The nature of his show, centered on political analysis and commentary, makes it nearly impossible to avoid discussing Trump, especially if he remains a dominant force in the news cycle.

While Maher remains committed to his HBO contract, his comments underscore the personal and professional toll of covering such a divisive political figure.

The comedian’s sharp wit and unfiltered takes have earned him both praise and criticism, but even he seems exhausted by the prospect of rehashing the Trump era for another four years.