# Maher faces criticism for soft interview with former press secretary Leavitt

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/bill-mahers-embarrassing-karoline-leavitt-interview-on-real-time/
- Published: 2026-10-24T04:27:07+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-24T04:32:17+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/bill-maher-karoline-leavitt-interview-trump-real-time-hbo-1236930093/
- Topics: Government, Politics

## Key points

- Maher’s interview with Leavitt was notably friendly.
- Leavitt is set to join Fox News on 1 November.
- Maher did not press her on Iran or Fox News.

## Summary

New details highlight the friendly tone of Bill Maher’s interview with former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on “Real Time”, following Maher’s recent dinner with Donald Trump. The exchange drew attention because Maher had previously mocked Leavitt’s defence of Trump after he insulted a reporter, but the article says he offered her little challenge in this interview.

Leavitt said she left the White House role in August to care for her two children, aged two years and six months, and would join Fox News as a pundit on 1 November. She relayed Trump’s message that he enjoyed the dinner with Maher, who praised Trump’s energy and said the White House needed a ballroom. Maher did not press Leavitt on Trump’s war with Iran or his relationship with Fox News.

## Coverage

- [Variety: Maher faces criticism for soft interview with former press secretary Leavitt](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/bill-maher-karoline-leavitt-interview-trump-real-time-hbo-1236930093/)
- [Daily Mail: Karoline Leavitt cracks Apprentice joke about Trump as Bill Maher puts her on the spot over fired Katie Zacharia](https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16234801/Karoline-Leavitt-Katie-Zacharia-Bill-Maher-joke.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.