Trump knew what was going to happen all along.
During a campaign rally in Arizona last October, President-elect Donald Trump predicted that President Joe Biden would eventually pardon his son, Hunter Biden. Trump was speaking with Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin when he was asked whether, if re-elected, he would consider pardoning Hunter in the name of unity.
Trump responded by expressing sympathy for the situation, noting, “It’s a sad situation.” He then added that he wouldn’t take any action regarding Hunter Biden, but predicted that “the father probably pardons him.” Trump made it clear, however, that Hunter Biden’s actions were a serious issue, calling him “a bad boy” with “no question” about it.
This exchange came ahead of the announcement made by President Biden in late November, where he expressed his belief that Hunter had been unfairly treated by the legal system. In a public statement, Biden criticized Republicans for their treatment of his son and defended his actions in office, stating that he had not interfered with the Justice Department’s decisions despite the public scrutiny of his son. Biden claimed that Hunter was being selectively prosecuted, specifically referencing his felony convictions for firearm offenses and tax violations.
Biden also argued that people in similar situations typically don’t face felony charges. He pointed out that individuals who have struggled with addiction, like Hunter, are usually given non-criminal resolutions, especially when they make efforts to repay their debts with interest and penalties.
In his defense, the president called attention to Hunter’s battle with substance abuse, noting that he had been sober for over five years. Biden suggested that the political attacks against his son were not just personal but an attempt to undermine him as president. “In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me,” Biden said, framing the legal battle as a broader effort to damage his presidency.