A federal judge has dismissed a $150 million defamation lawsuit brought by conservative activist Laura Loomer against Bill Maher and HBO, ruling that on-air remarks he made about her were clearly intended as a joke.
The dispute stemmed from a 2024 episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, where Maher noted Loomer’s frequent public appearances alongside Donald Trump and joked about a possible romantic relationship. Loomer filed suit soon after, arguing the comment was defamatory and caused both reputational and personal harm.
In his ruling, U.S. District Judge James Moody found that the context of the remarks—delivered during a late-night comedy program—made them unlikely to be interpreted as factual claims. As a result, they did not meet the legal standard for defamation.
The court also determined that Loomer failed to demonstrate tangible harm tied to the segment. According to the ruling, her public standing and access to Trump were not diminished in the aftermath, and her earnings did not decline during the period in question.
Maher, in legal filings, said the joke was prompted by news coverage at the time highlighting Loomer’s proximity to Trump, including shared travel and public appearances. He characterized the line as a comedic exaggeration of that coverage.
Video of Maher’s comment as it aired on HBO’s Real Time on September 14, 2024:
Here's video of the comment that led Loomer to sue Maher (from HBO's 'Real Time with Bill Maher,' September 14, 2024) pic.twitter.com/Co80cKLJL0
— LateNighter (@latenightercom) April 23, 2026
Loomer blasted the decision on X, calling the ruling “both factually and legally wrong” and insisting Maher’s remarks were “no joke.” She argued the segment led to harassment and “misogynistic and unwanted sexual comments,” and said it was “beyond the pale” for a judge to dismiss such claims as humor. Loomer also signaled she plans to appeal.
While Trump was not involved in this lawsuit, Maher has faced legal threats over his comedy before—including one from Trump himself more than a decade ago.
In 2013, during a segment on Real Time, Maher mocked Trump’s role in promoting conspiracy theories about Barack Obama’s birthplace by making a satirical “offer”: he said he would donate $5 million to charity if Trump could prove he was not “the son of an orangutan.” The bit was clearly framed as a parody of Trump’s own demand that Obama release his birth certificate.
Trump responded by filing a $5 million lawsuit against Maher, arguing that the comedian had made a serious offer and owed the money after Trump produced documentation about his family. Maher and HBO treated the claim as frivolous, maintaining the segment was unmistakably comedic. Trump later withdrew the lawsuit, and the case was dismissed before it advanced.
For late-night television, the Loomer ruling underscores a consistent legal reality: punchlines—even provocative ones—are rarely treated as actionable claims when delivered in a context where audiences expect satire.
