Bill Maher reverses on Iran strike on Billy Bush podcast
Bill Maher used Billy Bush’s Hot Mics podcast to say his view of Trump’s Iran strike has changed. On Wednesday, he said the war has become a dangerous mess with no clear exit strategy, after initially backing the decision.
Maher’s reversal on Iran
Maher said, “I’m supportive of the idea of going into Iran. I thought that was a good attempt,” before adding, “What I hope he does now is realize it didn’t work.” He followed that with, “Now let’s not make a bad situation worse,” and, “Let’s get out of this as cleanly as we can, and we’ll try again at some point if we have to.”
That shift matters because Maher was not arguing from an anti-intervention line. He said presidents from both parties have long viewed Iran’s nuclear program as a serious threat, and he added, “They should have started the war when the people were in the streets,” a reference to the internal pressure point he believes the U.S. missed.
12 weeks and $4.46 gas
The war had dragged on for more than 12 weeks, longer than the White House initially said major operations would take, with four or five weeks the original window. Negotiations kept stalling as violence continued in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the route that carries roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply.
In May, an Ipsos poll found 52 percent of Americans said the war had not been worth it, while 23 percent said the military action was justified. Gas prices had also climbed to a national average of $4.46 a gallon, putting a price tag on a conflict that was already testing patience at home.
Strait of Hormuz pressure
On April 22, Trump announced an extension of a ceasefire framework with Iran, and hours later Iran reportedly attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Masoud Pezeshkian accused Washington of sabotaging negotiations through “breach of commitments, blockade, and threats.” Trump later wrote that the strait was “COMPLETELY OPEN,” then issued a shoot-to-kill warning against Iranian vessels suspected of deploying naval mines in the waterway.
In May, Trump said the U.S. would help “free up” stranded ships trapped near the strait, and senior Iranian military officials warned American forces would face retaliation if they entered the area. Hours later, Iranian outlets claimed missiles struck a U.S. warship near the southern end of the strait.
Last week, Trump told reporters that a deal to obtain Iran’s enriched uranium was imminent, while a senior Iranian official said negotiations remained deadlocked the same day. Maher’s on-air reversal now puts the pressure on Trump’s line of attack: the public message says movement is near, while the battlefield and the talks are still stuck in place.
