Bill Maher challenged Hunter Biden's criticism of the US approach to Iran during an appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher, pushing back with reminders that Democrats had also opposed Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and that Israel had long sought military action against Tehran. The exchange matters as a rare moment of pointed scrutiny from a sympathetic media figure, highlighting divisions even among Trump critics over how to characterise responsibility for the ongoing conflict.

During the interview, Biden, 56, called Jared Kushner an "unelected, unappointed emissary" over his role negotiating with Iran, prompting Maher to note that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had indeed sought the conflict. Biden countered that every president since Jimmy Carter had refused Israeli requests to bomb Iran, with Trump being the exception, a claim Maher accepted as "true". Maher also pressed Biden on his finances, including his art sales earning an average of $225,000 a year and his 2014-2019 role on the board of Ukrainian firm Burisma Holdings, with Biden conceding he "100 percent" got the job because of his father. The discussion came days after Kushner reportedly held a surprise meeting with Hamas leaders in Egypt as part of efforts to advance a US-brokered Gaza peace plan.