Bill Maher opened up on his podcast "Club Random," admitting that he finds a certain thrill in watching President Donald Trump go head-to-head with journalists.

Speaking to actor Kevin Spacey, Maher said he experiences “vicarious joy” seeing Trump say things to reporters that he himself would hesitate to say, as reported by Fox News.

Maher acknowledged that while he has had a complicated relationship with Trump, he could still appreciate the President’s unabashed style when dealing with the press.

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He joked about their long history of public insults, but admitted there are moments when he feels Trump’s bluntness mirrors his own unspoken thoughts.

The comedian explained that, at times, he wants to push back on the media himself but chooses not to start that fight. Watching Trump do it, however, gives him a sense of catharsis.

“You want to say it back to the media and I won’t… because you just don’t want to pick that fight with them,” Maher said.

Recalling a particular exchange, Maher said Trump once told an interviewer, “You’re a terrible person!” and he could not help feeling like he would have loved to blurt out the same.

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The host described this as one of several examples where he understood exactly what Trump was thinking.

Maher listed other Trump-style retorts such as “It’s not a sincere question,” “It’s a gotcha thing,” and “It’s a virtue-signaling thing.”

He laughed at how, in those moments, Trump voiced frustrations that many might secretly share but leave unsaid.

Despite his frequent criticism of Trump on political issues, Maher appeared to praise the President’s refusal to bow to reporters.

“Not our president,” he said, emphasizing Trump’s unwillingness to play by traditional rules of media decorum.

The moment offered a rare glimpse of Maher empathizing with a figure he often mocks. His comments suggested a complicated mix of admiration and exasperation toward Trump’s confrontational approach.

Maher’s remarks came shortly after he received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center. The occasion marked a milestone in his career and, as usual, came with a bit of humor at Trump’s expense.

During the ceremony, impressionist Matt Friend performed an impersonation of Trump, joking that the President questioned why Maher, whom he called a “low-ratings lightweight jerk,” was being honored instead of him.

A friend even mimicked Trump’s trademark gestures and dance to the audience’s amusement.

That performance reflected the strange dynamic between Maher and Trump — one defined by sharp critique mixed with an odd measure of respect.

Maher’s latest comments extended that duality, showing that even his sharpest political disses do not prevent him from recognizing what he considers human, if combative, authenticity.

Maher reiterated that while he would not personally confront journalists in the same way, he understands the temptation.

It is that unfiltered impulse, he suggested, that makes Trump’s interactions with the press so oddly satisfying to watch.

In reflecting on those exchanges, Maher’s tone carried both humor and honesty. He did not excuse Trump’s behavior but admitted it spoke to something real about frustration with the media’s tone and tactics.

It was a candid acknowledgment from a commentator known as much for his criticism as his contrarian insights.

The exchange with Spacey captured Maher’s signature blend of provocation and candor — a willingness to praise even those he often ridicules when he sees a relatable truth in their actions.

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