Bill Maher defends Gretchen Whitmer for appearing with Trump, advises her to 'own it'

The comedian also advised Whitmer to "own" the meetings with Trump instead of seeming uneasy about them, telling her to take a page from his meeting with the president in March.

"And I would just like to say - I was trying to help her the other week - just own it, like a certain talk show host did when you meet the president," he said, pointing to himself. 

The photo prompted anger from some liberals, who slammed her for meeting with Trump. Conservatives also criticized her for the moment, suggesting she was being insecure about working with the president.

Again, progressives criticized Whitmer for appearing to work with Trump rather than denounce him.

On "Real Time," Maher admitted it appeared as though Trump was trying to get her in trouble with the left, but maintained that it is fine for Whitmer to engage in a constructive relationship with Trump.

"This week - Trump f------ punked her twice - called her up, he was in Michigan… Governors need the president's help on certain things, you know?" he said. 

"And he calls her up, which she didn't expect, and then they got a picture of her hugging him or smiling with him… and now she's history's greatest monster," Maher added, ridiculing the left's reaction to the meeting.

"When you meet the president, just - it's okay. He's the president," the host said. 

"That should not be wrong," McCarthy agreed. "That should not be wrong at all."

Elsewhere, he added, "Our country should not have a problem with people of two different parties - the election's over - sitting down, working on issues, especially a president and governor."