HBO’s Bill Maher, the host of Real Time, jokes that if US President Donald Trump’s son Donald Jr. had done what Hunter Biden allegedly did, MSNBC's top-rated host, Rachel Maddow, who has extensively covered the alleged Trump ties to Russia, would be all over him.
"It does sound like something Don[ald] Trump Jr. would do. And if Don Jr. did it, it would be all Rachel Maddow was talking about," he said, commenting on the allegations against Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden and the current impeachment proceedings against POTUS.
Although he spoke favourably about the former vice-president’s son, noting that he did not think Hunter Biden “ was doing something terrible in Ukraine," Maher nonetheless lambasted him for taking a questionable job, saying it "just looks bad."
"But why can't politicians tell their f---ing kids, 'Get a job, get a goddamn job!' This kid was paid $600,000 because his name is Biden by a gas company in Ukraine, this super-corrupt country that just had a revolution to get rid of corruption," Maher said.
He repeated his call on Twitter, advising politicians to tell their kids to get a real job rather than a “‘consulting’ job cuz your somebody's kid”.
I hope like hell this Ukraine thing is what brings Trump down, but I gotta say, re Hunter Biden: politicians need to tell their fucking kids to get a fucking job. A real job. Not a "consulting" job cuz your somebody's kid. It looks swampy.
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) September 26, 2019
His tweet has prompted debate, with some pointing out that Biden was not the only father whose name has become a career crutch.
And Barr’s son and daughter in law. Oh, and Meaghan McCain. The list is endless really.
— Tracy Katz 🌊🇺🇸🇺🇸☘🆘 (@TracyKatz8) September 26, 2019
Don’t forget Anthony Kennedy’s son who gave Trump and Kushner a huge loan, earned a massive fee, and Dad promptly retired on promise Kavanugh got his seat
— Kron (@bumpychunky) September 27, 2019
Others warned Maher against voicing his opinions, noting that they could be turned on their head by Trump…
Don’t give him an excuse to use the election slogan, “Lock him (and his son) up”.
— Addie (@addieperle1) September 26, 2019
Some used it as an opportunity to defend Joe Biden, saying parents do not often know about their children’s work.
He’s nearly 50 years old. I have a married 25 yr old son who lives a few hours away and I know nothing about his job responsibilities or finances. Am I accountable for his choices forever?
— Alison Berkowitz (@aliberk65) September 26, 2019
But that aside, there is no justification for Trump’s actions. Zero.
However, some described the impeachment process as an anti-Trump plot.
Nobody with a ounce of logical reasoning will see this as more than anothe plot to bring down @realDonaldTrump.
— Mally (@wordsaretools) September 26, 2019
Hunter Biden made headlines after a US government whistleblower reported that the president pressured his Ukraine counterpart to look into the business affairs of the former US vice president’s son, in an abuse of power. House Democrats quickly announced the launch of an impeachment proceeding against POTUS, who is campaigning for reelection in 2020. Trump dismissed the accusations against him and stated that his conversation with the Ukrainian president was "pitch perfect".
