The pardon of Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son, has sparked heated debate, particularly among Republicans. On Monday’s episode of The View, Whoopi Goldberg and her liberal co-hosts defended the move, calling it a standard action for any sitting president. Goldberg, dismissing the backlash from the GOP as “pearl-clutching,” highlighted that pardoning individuals is a routine part of a president’s duties.
Goldberg started the discussion by pointing out that pardons are nothing new, even in the modern political landscape. She reminded viewers that during former President Donald Trump’s time in office, he pardoned numerous individuals, including controversial figures such as Roger Stone and Michael Flynn. Goldberg argued that it was not unusual for a president to use their pardoning power and criticized the intense reaction from Republicans.
“That’s what presidents do every time. They do it every time, they pardon somebody, so I’m not sure why the pearl-clutching is happening now,” Goldberg said. “It seems kind of foolish.”
President Joe Biden announced his decision to pardon Hunter Biden on Sunday, following ongoing legal troubles for his son related to felony gun and tax charges. This move has faced strong criticism from conservative figures who argue that it undermines trust in the justice system. For many Republicans, the pardon is seen as a way for President Biden to shield his son from the consequences of his actions, fueling the narrative that there are two sets of rules—one for the powerful and another for the ordinary citizen.
While Goldberg firmly stood by the pardon, her fellow liberal co-hosts also defended Biden’s actions. Sunny Hostin, a former prosecutor, suggested that Hunter Biden’s legal troubles might never have come to light if not for his famous last name. Hostin also expressed the belief that the prosecution of Hunter Biden was politically motivated, given his connection to the president.
Co-host Ana Navarro added to the discussion, lamenting that Hunter Biden was being prosecuted solely because of his father’s position in power. “Hunter, your dad has given you a great, great gift: The gift of freedom,” Navarro said, addressing the younger Biden directly.
Despite the unified support for Biden’s decision among the show’s liberal hosts, the panel was not without dissent. Alyssa Farah Griffin, the conservative voice on The View, pushed back, arguing that pardoning Hunter Biden perpetuates the belief that powerful individuals are above the law. Griffin criticized President Biden for initially claiming that he would not issue a pardon for his son, calling it a lie that sets a dangerous precedent. She also took issue with the timing of the pardon, suggesting it appeared politically motivated.
“Most Americans, if they face consequences for actions that they took, they’re going to have to face them,” Griffin said. “But when you’re politically connected, you get different treatment.”
Goldberg quickly countered these criticisms, defending President Biden’s decision to pardon his son. She speculated that Biden likely never intended to issue the pardon, but over time, as the legal process unfolded, he might have felt compelled to act. Goldberg suggested that Biden’s rationale was rooted in fairness, especially given the lack of accountability for others who had committed similar offenses.
“I think Biden had no intentions of pardoning Hunter,” Goldberg explained. “But the more stuff went down, he said, ‘Why am I busting my behind to stay straight and do this when no one else is doing it?’”
While the hosts of The View were mostly in agreement, it was clear that the topic had sparked deep divisions. On the liberal side, the general consensus was that the pardon was just part of the president’s responsibilities, with many feeling that Hunter Biden had been unfairly targeted due to his family’s prominence. On the conservative side, the pardon was seen as a breach of public trust, reinforcing the notion of a dual justice system in the U.S.
In the larger political landscape, the controversy surrounding Hunter Biden’s pardon continues to divide Americans. For those on the right, it feeds into concerns over the influence of the political elite and the perceived lack of consequences for the wealthy and powerful. For others, it is a routine exercise of presidential power that should not be clouded by partisan agendas.
The debate over Hunter Biden’s pardon is likely to persist, with both sides holding firm in their convictions. However, as Whoopi Goldberg aptly pointed out, presidential pardons are far from a new development in American politics. “That’s what presidents do every time,” she reminded her audience, stressing that this is simply how the system works.
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