Trump hosted a dinner with – wait for it – Stephen A Smith, Kid Rock and Bill Maher

President Donald Trump hosted a dinner Thursday night with, wait for it, singer Kid Rock, HBO host Bill Maher and ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith.

Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, mentioned the dinner during a Friday morning appearance on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends,” calling the gathering “epic.”

The singer said the four men agreed on at least one point: “Socialism and communism have no place to gain a foothold in our government.”

Kid Rock wears patriotic costume in the Oval Office with Trump

Kid Rock wore a very patriotic outfit while visiting President Trump at the White House in April. (White House)

It’s unclear why Trump brought this particular group together for dinner. However, Rock said he and Maher recently joined Trump for a separate meal that was also attended by UFC President Dana White.

Apparently, Smith was the sports representative this time.

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To the group’s credit, there was at least some political diversity around the table. Kid Rock is a staunch Trump supporter. Maher is a liberal who is increasingly critical of both parties and the progressive left. Smith is politically inconsistent.

We suspect Smith played the role of a proud moderate Thursday night, as he often does when he appears on conservative radio and television.

This version of Smith may seem very different from the one that appears on SiriusXM and his YouTube channel, where he is much more sensitive to the concerns of liberals and what he frequently calls the black community.

Stephen A. Smith speaks on stage at Fanatics Fest.

Stephen A. Smith speaks on stage as he and Christopher Russo host the SiriusXM broadcasts live from Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center on July 17, 2026 in New York. (Getty Images for SiriusXM)

Smith says he will address the dinner Friday night on his podcast.

Our prediction: He will downplay the friendly nature of the meeting, point out that dining with Trump doesn’t mean he supports him, and claim he pushed the president on racial issues. He will then offer a somewhat different narrative the next time a conservative interviews him.

Maher, meanwhile, is probably the group member most likely to provide a straightforward account of what really happened. We have no doubt that the evening was as entertaining as Kid Rock suggests.

Yet the dinner is notable for another reason. Trump remains one of the few major politicians in 2026 who regularly sits down with people who openly disagree with him. Few political commentators have been more critical of Trump than Maher, including after the two had dinner together for the first time last year.