“Real Time” host Bill Maher tore into President Donald Trump’s state visit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week, riffing on what their interactions could mean when it comes to Xi’s leverage over his American counterpart.“China knows what Trump likes. What does he like? He likes the pomp and the parades, and he likes the red carpet, and there were thousands of children waving American flags,” Maher said. “You know, Xi, he’s clever, you know, he knows, he bargained like someone who knows he holds the cards now, ever since Trump backed down on their big trade war. In fact, as a subtle dig, they served orange chicken.”U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping while leaving after a visit to the Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing, Friday, May 15, 2026.Evan Vucci/Pool Photo via APMaher went on to note Xi’s remark that America was in decline, as well as Trump’s attempt to claim the Chinese leader was really talking about former President Joe Biden. “He just said, ‘Well, you know what, when he said declining nation, he was talking about Biden’s four years,’” Maher said, referring to Trump’s lengthy Truth Social post on Thursday. “And Trump was right, under Trump, gas prices, they haven’t declined. Inflation, that’s not declining.” Maher added that the affection Trump seems to have for Xi seemed “a little weird,” before calling out the bizarre comments Trump made about Xi’s appearance during a Fox News interview on Thursday. “I’m glad our leaders of these two powerful countries with nuclear weapons aren’t fighting, but it’s getting a little, you know, personal,” Maher said. “Trump said, you know what he said about Xi? He said if you went to Hollywood, you couldn’t find in Central Casting a better guy.” “At one point, he said, Xi, your hair smells terrific,” Maher quipped. Close