Bill Maher Refuses to Apologize for Trump Orangutan Joke, Says “No, F*ck No”

Comedian and longtime political commentator Bill Maher made headlines again this week with a blunt refusal to apologize to President Donald Trump for a decade-old joke comparing Trump to an orangutan — a remark that Trump once turned into a lawsuit but that Maher now refuses to retract.

On the latest episode of HBO’s Real Time With Bill Maher, the host was asked directly whether he had apologized to Trump for the comment. Maher’s response was emphatic: “No, f*ck no!” when queried about regret for the joke and whether there had been any reconciliation with the president. He made the statement during an “overtime” segment featuring guests including former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Canadian political figure Chrystia Freeland.

The exchange was brief but revealing. Freeland mentioned she thought Maher had apologized after a supper the two had with Trump. Maher confirmed the dinner but stressed that dining together did not mean admitting error. “Yeah, I had supper with him,” Maher said, “I didn’t apologize.”

Maher’s comment recalls a well-publicized 2013 incident when Trump sued him over a joke Maher made about the  president’s parentage. The lawsuit, which Maher and many legal observers said was without merit, centered on Maher’s playful suggestion that Trump was “the spawn of an orangutan.” That case never resulted in a public apology from Maher — and, as he reiterated this week, he has no intention of offering one now.

Maher’s comments land as Trump faces fresh backlash over another primate-themed controversy. Earlier this month, a Truth Social post from Trump’s account circulated an AI-generated clip depicting Barack and Michelle Obama with their faces superimposed onto apes — imagery swiftly condemned as racist before the post was deleted.

Addressing the clip on Real Time, Maher dismissed the White House’s explanation as “lame,” likening the episode to the Roseanne Barr fallout that ended her TV career.

“What they said was, ‘He didn’t mean to share it, he meant to like it,’” Maher quipped, mocking the administration’s defense, and adding, “There are no apes in The Lion King.” His remarks captured the incredulity of many observers at how the incident was handled

The episode also rekindles discussion about the role of comedians in political discourse, particularly when jokes intersect with sensitive social histories. Imagery that reduces people to animal comparisons has deep roots in racist stereotypes, and its surfacing in political contexts — even through satire or AI manipulation — has drawn scrutiny from civil rights advocates, pundits, and lawmakers alike.

Maher, who has never shied away from controversial takes, framed his response this week in the context of unwillingness to disown his own words, even in the face of personal legal tension with Trump. “That’s one thing I have never pulled a punch on,” Maher said during the exchange, suggesting that if sincere dialogue is to occur, it must be grounded in honest expression rather than contrition for every provocative joke.

Featured image via YouTube screengrab