President Joe Biden has released a statement about his son, Hunter, whose trial on illegal possession of a gun begins Monday in Wilmington, Delaware.
In the statement, the president expressed his love and support for his son and suggested that his behavior was a result of his drug addiction; something, he said, many families can relate to.
The statement read: "I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. Hunter's resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he has brought to his recovery are inspiring to us. A lot of families have loved ones who have addiction and know what we mean.
"As the President, I don't and won't comment on pending federal cases, but as a Dad, I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength. Our family has been through a lot together, and Jill and I are going to continue to be there for Hunter and our family with our love and support."
Biden's statement was posted on X by Katie Phang, the host of MSNBC's Katie Phang Show.
One commenter responded: "Katie, this is trial interference. By not commenting, or picking a side, he is taunting the jury."
Another wrote: "As a recovering addict of 37 years and the mother of a son who is 6 yrs clean/sober(he went to jail for a year), I understand the love that Pres. Biden has for Hunter. It makes me sad at how the GOP/MAGA has gone after Hunter. Addiction is a real thing!"
Meanwhile, jury selection has begun in Hunter's criminal trial, in which he has been charged with three felonies stemming from a 2018 firearm purchase when he was, according to his memoir, in the throes of a crack addiction, The Associated Press reported.
He has been accused of lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the application used to screen firearms applicants when he said he was not a drug user, and illegally having the gun for 11 days, the AP wrote.
He has pleaded not guilty and has argued he's being unfairly targeted by the Justice Department.
The president's allies are worried about the toll the trial may take on the elder Biden, who's long been concerned about the well-being and sobriety of his only living son and who must now watch as those painful past mistakes are publicly scrutinized, the AP wrote.
He's also protective: Hunter Biden was with his father all weekend before the case began, biking with his dad and attending church together.
The Hunter Biden trial comes just days after former President Donald Trump, the Republicans' presumptive 2024 presidential nominee, was convicted of 34 felonies in New York City, the AP noted.
"A jury found the former president guilty of a scheme to cover up a hush money payment to an adult film actress to fend off damage to his 2016 presidential campaign," the AP wrote. "The two criminal cases are unrelated, but their proximity underscores how the criminal courtroom has taken center stage during the 2024 campaign."
Hunter Biden is also facing a separate trial in California in September on charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Peter Malbin ✉
Peter Malbin, a Newsmax writer, covers news and politics. He has 30 years of news experience, including for the New York Times, New York Post and Newsweek.com.
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