President-elect Trump responded swiftly to President Biden's unexpected decision to pardon his son Hunter on Sunday.
Biden had previously stated he wouldn’t pardon Hunter, making his reversal a national shock. In a Truth Social post, Trump questioned Biden’s priorities. "Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?" Trump wrote. "Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!"
The Trump transition team also weighed in on the controversial pardon. Steven Cheung, Trump’s incoming White House communications chief, called it a glaring example of a broken justice system. “The failed witch hunts against President Trump have proven that the Democrat-controlled DOJ and other radical prosecutors are guilty of weaponizing the justice system,” Cheung said in a statement to Fox News.
Cheung emphasized that justice must be reformed under Trump’s leadership. “Due process must be restored for all Americans, which is exactly what President Trump will do as he returns to the White House with an overwhelming mandate from the American people,” he added.
Earlier Sunday, Biden defended his decision by accusing Republicans of targeting Hunter unfairly. He highlighted his son’s struggles and the perceived inequity in his prosecution. Hunter Biden had been convicted of firearm offenses and felony tax charges earlier this year. “From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making,” Biden stated. “I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.”
Biden argued that such cases rarely go to trial under similar circumstances. “Without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form,” he explained. He also noted that those who resolve their tax debts typically avoid criminal charges.
The president touched on Hunter’s recovery journey, asking for empathy from Americans. “Hunter has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution,” Biden said. “In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me. Enough is enough.”
This statement marked a sharp turn from Biden’s earlier stance. After Hunter’s conviction, Biden had declared, “I am not going to do anything. I will abide by the jury’s decision.”
Trump, meanwhile, had previously shared his own views on the situation, predicting Biden would eventually pardon his son. “I’ll bet you the father probably pardons him,” Trump told Fox News. “Let’s see what happens. But he’s a bad boy.”