President Joe Biden has been keeping Hunter Biden in the public eye more than ever despite reports indicating political advisers are concerned about the optics of having his scandal-ridden son so close during his reelection efforts.
Hunter Biden appeared on the balcony of the White House on Tuesday night for the Fourth of July, holding his son Beau Biden while celebrating alongside the president’s other children and grandchildren. The president’s son also accompanied Joe Biden to Camp David over the weekend, attended a State Dinner at the White House on June 22, went to Camp David on June 24 and was pictured attending Maisy Biden’s graduation in May alongside the president.
US President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden and Hunter Biden with his son Beau watch the Independence Day fireworks display from the Truman Balcony of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 4, 2023. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Hunter Biden (L), holds his son Beau alongside his wife, Melissa Cohen (R) as they walk to a waiting SUV after arriving with US President Joe Biden on Marine One at Fort McNair in Washington, DC, July 4, 2023, as they return to Washington after spending the weekend at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson (L) and Hunter Biden (R) arrive for a toast during an official State Dinner in honor of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the White House in Washington, DC, on June 22, 2023. (STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
US President Joe Biden walks with grandson Beau Biden to Marine One as Hunter Biden (R) follows at Andrews Air Force Base June 24, 2023, in Maryland. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden (out of frame) joined by Hunter Biden, and Ashley Biden attend their granddaughter Maisy Biden’s graduation from the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field on May 15, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
The public appearances come off the heels of Hunter Biden entering a plea deal with the Department of Justice (DOJ) on a gun charge and pleading guilty to two counts of tax fraud misdemeanors. Days after his plea deal, the House Ways and Means Committee published documents with an IRS whistleblower testifying that Hunter Biden threatened a Chinese business associate in 2017 by texting that Joe Biden was sitting next to him.
Those close to the president have told him to think about keeping his son at arms length due to the contentions, NBC News reported. Joe Biden has allegedly responded by being “defensive to outright angry,” and doesn’t want to accept any suggestions about keeping his son at a distance, according to the outlet. (RELATED: ‘It’s Consumed Him’: Biden Reportedly Lashes Out At Top Aides Worried About Hunter’s Scandals)
The president got visibly angry after a reporter asked him about the alleged Hunter Biden text message, yelling “no!” when asked if he was really in the room during the purported exchange with the Chinese business associate. The White House has also been relatively tight-lipped about Joe Biden allegedly being in the room for the alleged text, with White House press secretaries refusing to speak on the topic from the podium and the Counsel’s office saying he was “not in business” with Hunter Biden.