Bill Maher interviewed Hunter Biden on Real Time Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, opening with jokes about Biden’s infamous laptop, past substance use and whether he might run for president. The 56-year-old Biden said he has not considered a campaign and joked that any announcement should trigger a relapse check. The HBO appearance came during Hunter Biden’s unusually aggressive media run, which has included social media posts, Substack writing and interviews on programs hosted by Nick Fuentes , Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens . Hunter Biden said his public speaking is tied to his seven years of sobriety and a desire to reach people affected by addiction. “There are 50 million Americans that are still sick and suffering every day from addiction,” Hunter Biden said. Was This a Comeback or a Campaign? Maher challenged Hunter Biden without turning the conversation into a full courtroom cross examination. Maher told Biden that he had done harmful things but was not necessarily a bad person, comparing the sentiment to remarks Maher previously made about Charlie Sheen . Hunter Biden also acknowledged his privilege and contrasted his family’s finances with claims he made about Donald Trump Jr. According to Hunter Biden, Trump Jr.’s company secured $3.4 billion in Department of Defense contracts during the administration’s previous 500 days and benefited from a $640 million loan; those figures were presented as part of Biden’s argument about political family business, not independently verified during the interview.