In a fiery exchange on CNN’s “NewsNight” on January 16, 2025, Ana Navarro, a political commentator, shut down Kevin O’Leary, a well-known businessman from the show Shark Tank, during a heated discussion about President Joe Biden’s actions, including his pardoning of his son, Hunter Biden. Navarro’s sharp response to O’Leary’s questions captivated viewers and highlighted the double standards in political debates over nepotism.
It all started when O’Leary asked, “How do you think history is going to treat [Biden’s] foreign policy, his Bidenomics? How do you think he’s going to be treated, pardoning his son? The Biden brand name?” O’Leary’s main point was to question how Biden’s legacy would be shaped, mainly focusing on his decision to pardon his son, Hunter, and how that might affect the Biden family’s reputation.
But Ana Navarro quickly turned the conversation around. “I don’t think you can argue against pardoning the son when you voted—when you supported a felon,” Navarro responded, hitting O’Leary where it hurts. “You see, that, to me, you lose the moral authority there to talk about that.” Navarro was referencing O’Leary’s support for Donald Trump, who had faced multiple legal issues, including accusations of felonies.
This bold statement was just the beginning of a tense debate. O’Leary, not backing down, asked about Biden’s family brand. He compared Biden’s actions to Nixon’s and said it was “worse than Nixon for him.” But Navarro wasn’t having it. She fired back with a robust response that turned the tables: “You’re going to talk to me about helping the family when Jared Kushner got $2 billion from the Saudis?”
NAVARRO: “You’re gonna talk to me about helping the family when Jared Kushner got $2 BILLION from the Saudis?”@ananavarro’s mic drop moment as Trump supporter @kevinolearytv tries to hit Biden for nepotism. pic.twitter.com/2svMC4WlNT
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 17, 2025
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
The “Jared Kushner” moment was a direct shot at Trump’s son-in-law, who faced intense scrutiny over his ties with Saudi Arabia. In 2022, Kushner’s investment firm received $2 billion from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, despite concerns about the fund’s risks and Kushner’s lack of experience in managing significant investments. These ties raised serious ethical questions, especially considering Trump’s time in office and the relationships he built with Saudi leaders. Navarro brought this up to show the hypocrisy in O’Leary’s criticism of the Biden family. She pointed out how O’Leary was criticizing Biden’s family while ignoring the massive financial support Kushner received from the Saudis.
This moment wasn’t just a back-and-forth about politics—it was a sharp commentary on double standards in political and business circles. While O’Leary and other critics of Biden focus on Hunter Biden’s actions, they often overlook similar, if not more significant, issues involving other political families, including those connected to Trump.
Navarro also called out O’Leary for his support of billionaires, pointing to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk’s government contracts while they had close relationships with Biden. She added, “You’re going to talk to me about punishing billionaires who have cozied up to Trump when Bezos and Musk are still making deals under Biden’s watch?”
The debate became even more intense when O’Leary suggested that Biden’s farewell address warned about the risks to democracy and oligarchy in America, was somehow biased against billionaires. Navarro said Biden’s farewell speech was “for history and posterity” and noted how Biden’s achievements would “grow and bloom in decades to come.”
The rules of politics often seem to depend on who you know, who you’re connected to, and which side of the political spectrum you align with. Navarro’s take on O’Leary’s questions offered a refreshing reminder that accountability should apply to all, regardless of party or influence.
Featured image via Screengrab
