The Oval Office address on Wednesday night by President Joe Biden was accompanied by his scandal-plagued son Hunter Biden and one of his daughters just out of frame. This event occurred shortly after the president, aged 81, announced the end of his re-election campaign, which had faced increasing pressure from important Democratic allies urging him to rethink his position. The calls for change began following a disastrous debate against former President Donald Trump on June 27th, where Biden appeared confused and stumbled over his answers.
Hunter Biden, aged 54 and currently facing sentencing for a gun charge, was reportedly advising his father to remain in the race alongside first lady Jill Biden. Sitting next to Hunter was his daughter Finnegan Biden, aged 23, while the first lady sat next to Joe Biden’s desk along with Ashley Biden and her husband Howard Krein.
Throughout this period, Hunter had been staying with his father at Camp David, believing that he had enough stamina to campaign for another term. The New York Times reported this in late June. Despite the White House’s insistence that Joe Biden would not pardon Hunter before leaving office, sources close to the president have suggested that they believe a pardon may be granted.
Biden’s Oval Office speech on Wednesday night marked the first time he had addressed Americans live since suspending his bid. The president was diagnosed with COVID-19 last Wednesday and had been in Delaware until Tuesday, but even after being cleared of the virus, he still spoke with a raspy voice.
Following his father’s decision to suspend his campaign on Sunday, Hunter sent out a heartfelt message expressing his admiration for his father: “For my entire life, I’ve looked at my dad in awe. How could he suffer so much heartache and yet give so much of whatever remained of his heart to others?” He continued, “Over a lifetime I have witnessed him absorb the pain of countless everyday Americans who he’s given his personal phone number to, because he wanted them to call him when they were hurting.
This Oval Office address demonstrated the ongoing support and encouragement that Joe Biden receives from his family as he navigates the challenges of public service.
