A video of White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre confidently stating that President Joe Biden would not pardon his son, Hunter Biden, has sparked a firestorm of controversy across social media. The video, which quickly went viral on X (formerly Twitter), shows Jean-Pierre responding to a reporter’s question about the possibility of a presidential pardon for Hunter. Her firm “no” has been met with widespread criticism and accusations of dishonesty, particularly after Biden signed a pardon for his son just days later, on December 1, following Hunter’s conviction on federal gun charges and tax evasion.
The situation has prompted intense reactions from users on X, who are accusing the Biden administration of “lying” and betraying public trust. President Biden had previously made clear his stance on the matter, stating multiple times that he would not intervene in the case of his son. His comments, which came as recently as June, were categorical, Biden insisted he would abide by the jury’s decision in Hunter’s Delaware gun trial, saying, “I will not pardon him.” These statements were part of a broader narrative Biden had crafted, promising Americans that he would restore ethical norms and uphold the rule of law in the wake of the controversies surrounding former President Donald Trump’s tenure.
This position was reinforced by Jean-Pierre in November, after the outcome of the presidential election. Responding to repeated questions about whether Biden would use his presidential power to pardon Hunter, she reiterated the administration’s stance, saying,
“We’ve been asked that question multiple times. Our answer stands, which is no.”
However, in a surprising twist, just a few days later, Biden signed an official pardon for Hunter. The charges against Hunter, related to his possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and his failure to pay federal taxes, had caused a significant amount of public scrutiny. Despite these legal challenges, the president’s decision to issue a pardon caught many off guard, especially considering his earlier, unequivocal denials. This apparent reversal has now become the subject of intense debate, with critics accusing the administration of dishonesty and calling into question the credibility of its previous statements.
The viral video showing Jean-Pierre’s denial of the possibility of a pardon has only fueled these concerns. Shared widely across social media with the caption, “For years Joe Biden’s administration assured you Joe would never pardon Hunter. It’s really extraordinary how blatantly they lie,” the video has sparked an outpouring of frustration among viewers. Many social media users expressed disbelief, accusing the Biden administration of a pattern of dishonesty. “It’s crazy we knew this was coming. They just lie, lie, lie, and then just do the exact thing they said they weren’t gonna do,” one user commented. Another added, “40 years of lying—why would he stop now?”
Others were more critical of the Biden family’s actions, stating that this was merely another example of the Bidens’ long history of shielding Hunter from accountability. “The Biden family has been covering for Hunter for decades,” one user wrote, while another said, “This comes as no surprise. Their son has never taken ownership of his mistakes and will never do so.”
While some users sympathized with the president’s position as a father, others felt that the way the situation was handled particularly the public denials was deeply problematic. “I think most of us can understand why Joe issued the pardon, but gaslighting the American people along the way is the issue,” said one commenter. Another user, reflecting on the contradiction between Biden’s actions and his previous rhetoric, wrote, “As a father, I get it and would do the same! However, the rationalization is complete BS, and ironically, it’s exactly what you did to your political opponent. Just say you have a son that made mistakes, that you love him and that you have the power to pardon him.”
The episode has reignited criticism of both the Biden administration’s transparency and its consistency, especially in light of the President’s broader commitment to ethical governance. For many, the controversy surrounding Hunter Biden’s pardon is emblematic of a larger issue with political accountability. Whether the public will accept the President’s actions as a personal decision motivated by family loyalty or see it as another example of political hypocrisy remains to be seen. As the debate continues to unfold, it seems that Biden’s handling of the situation may have unintended consequences, undermining the trust he worked so hard to rebuild following the tumult of the Trump era.
