Bill Maher is denying speculation that he may be leaving the HBO show

Despite speculation late last year that he “could leave” ahead of another Trump administration, the “Real Time” host Bill Maher told CNN that he is not leaving his program.

On Friday, Maher told CNN’s Jake Tapper that while he may be retiring from touring, he is not retiring from his popular Friday night show. If anything, he will have to be kicked out.

“I don’t know where it started that I’m getting rid of Real Time.” I — they’re going to have to pull me off that show,” he said.

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“Real Time” host Bill Maher told CNN that he is not leaving his HBO show because of President-elect Trump’s second term in the White House. (Screenshot/CNN)

Maher is reportedly earning 10 million dollars a year for his HBO show, which he has hosted since 2003.

During an episode of Maher’s “Club Random” podcast last December, the humorous and outspoken Trump critic told guest Jane Fonda that “can quit” because he doesn’t want to do stuff about another term with President-elect Trump in the White House.

“I can leave because I don’t want to do anything else. I did Trump. I did all the Trump stuff before anyone else. I called him a fraud before anyone else. I do. He is a mafia boss. I was the one who said he wasn’t going to concede in the election, I did it.”

On Friday night’s episode of CNN’s “The Lead,” Tapper asked Maher about the quote, suggesting he meant to quit his show. The host said, “But you’re talking about maybe quitting the HBO show…”

“No,” the HBO host interjected. Tepper continued, adding, “Well, you said something to Jane Fonda about thinking about it. Where are you in your career? You still have a lot of good stand-up, a lot of good jokes, right? Like what—tell us what—what’s next?”

Maher admitted that he plans to quit stand-up because he is tired of touring and has too much to do.

“Okay. I’m quitting stand-up just because I’m tired of touring, just because I’ve been doing it for 40 years. I like it,” he said.

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Bill Maher on the set of his “Club Random” podcast. (Screenshot/Club Random Media)

After comparing standing training to that of a boxer, he said, “I’ve been training for 40 years. I need a break. And I’m tired of traveling. — got out of bed on Saturday morning to go somewhere after working so hard “In Real Time” all week.”

He then clarified what he told Fonda during his show — that he just didn’t want to cover Trump again.

“What I was saying was that I didn’t want to be another Trump term. Not just because I don’t think it’s going to be perhaps a great time for America. Maybe, again, not going to hate anything, but because I already made a joke about Donald Trump.”

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Maher added: “I don’t know what else to say about the guy. But of course he will give us a lot of new material. And I’ll get into that, but I was hoping for an episodic TV show that meant America, I was hoping for new characters.”