Bill Maher Reflects on Misjudgment Regarding Iran Conflict: 'I Believed It Was Worth the Risk'

“Real Time” host Bill Maher expressed a shift in perspective on Friday regarding the U.S. military actions in Iran, revealing his hope that President Donald Trump would opt for a withdrawal from the conflict. This admission comes five weeks after Maher initially supported the strikes and criticized dissenting voices.

“You and I, I think, were aligned when this began six weeks ago,” Maher remarked to guest Douglas Murray, a contributor to the New York Post and a proponent of Israel's military actions in Gaza and Iran. “We believed it was the right moment to take decisive action against Iran, not solely due to their nuclear ambitions but also because they claimed in negotiations they were mere weeks away from developing 11 bombs.”

Maher’s comments echoed sentiments from Steve Witkoff, a billionaire and Trump ally, who has faced scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest while serving as the U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East.

“I thought it was worth taking the shot,” Maher stated. “But now, six weeks later, I sense we’re in a different situation. I read your column today, and you believe we must see this through at all costs. I was never on that page; I viewed it as a significant opportunity.”

The comedian expressed his earlier belief that the U.S. could swiftly dismantle Iran's leadership and support an uprising, only to be taken aback by Iran's display of military strength and its closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a point he had previously found perplexing.

“We executed our plan, and it didn’t yield the expected results,” he noted. “So now what? Do we retreat or persist? I hope Trump chooses to abandon this endeavor as he has done in the past. He’s never been one to stick around, except when it comes to tariffs.”

Maher’s tone shifted after Trump initiated airstrikes in February, where he admitted, “I don’t hate it,” while also ridiculing former Vice President Kamala Harris for her opposition to those actions. He has previously defended Trump against critics of the Iran conflict, including figures like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, asserting, “I’ll stand with Trump on this one.”

However, on Friday, Maher acknowledged, “I hope he follows the historical precedent of America.”

“Those who argue that we’ll damage our reputation by withdrawing,” he said, “should remember our history. We’ve cut and run before—in Vietnam, Iraq, with the Kurds, in Afghanistan, and in Beirut. That’s our pattern… If you align with us, you’re likely to get burned.”

Maher concluded with a candid remark about Trump: “He’s an asshole, but he’s our asshole.”