‘Just Admit It!’: Bill Maher Presses Hunter Biden on Profiting Off His Dad’s Political Office

Screenshot via HBO
Bill Maher pressed Hunter Biden on profiting off of his father’s name as his guest insisted he did “no business” while his dad was president.
Hunter Biden joined Maher on Friday’s Real Time and discussed a number of topics, including his recovery from addiction, his father, former President Joe Biden, the Iran war, and more. At one point, Hunter Biden complained that people misunderstand him and believe he profited off of his father’s name while he was president.
“One of the things that people, I think, don’t understand is that when my dad was president, I didn’t do any business. I sold paintings, and I sold paintings to people that then had to testify before Congress under oath. I made an average of $225,000 a year,” Biden told Maher.
Maher responded by bringing up Biden’s controversial time on the board of directors for Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings, a position he held from 2014 to 2019, while the elder Biden was serving as vice president under Barack Obama.
“But would you have been working for an energy company out of Ukraine? Was that really the thing you studied in school?” Maher asked Biden.
“I went to Yale Law School,” Biden said as Maher continued pressing him.
“You got that job because [of your dad]. Just admit it,” Maher said.
“Yeah, I just did. 100%,” Biden acknowledged.
“Good,” Maher replied.
“I’ve said on a million interviews, is that, you know, I’m incredibly privileged. I mean, beyond anyone’s wildest imagination, not only because of who my dad was, but because of the father that he was. And so a lot of privilege comes from that, and I don’t deny that in any way,” Biden continued.
Maher acknowledged that privilege also comes with a “target on your back.”
Biden went on to admit he was “naive” in how his business dealings would be perceived by the public and critics of his father.
“My judgment… was absolutely, completely, ridiculously off. I didn’t realize the snake pit, and I was naive in that sense. And I gave them something on a silver platter. Yeah, I’m going to ask you about it. And by the way, let me also say this. I did it for the money. And that’s what other people won’t say. I absolutely, 100% did do it, because it gave me a sense of freedom,” he said.
Maher wrapped up the subject by taking a shot at President Donald Trump’s children, including Donald Trump Jr., and their own business dealings while their father is in office.
“Just for perspective, I mean, whatever you made, it’s pennies compared to what Don Jr. Is making,” Maher said. “Not even a fraction of a penny. I mean billions. That’s just the truth.”
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