President Biden defended his controversial decision to pardon his son, Hunter, stating that he "meant what I said" when he initially pledged not to, but changed his mind after learning certain facts. In a recent interview, he expressed hope that his action wouldn't establish a precedent for future presidential "abuse" of pardon powers.

Biden's pardon encompassed all federal offenses Hunter may have committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024, including tax and gun charges. This reversal sparked outrage, even among some of his supporters, who had previously lauded him for seemingly upholding the justice system's integrity by not intervening in his family's legal matters.

The President justified his decision by citing Hunter's payment of back taxes, his struggle with and subsequent overcoming of drug addiction, and the perceived double standard applied to his son's gun charge. He claimed that no one had previously been prosecuted for the specific gun-related offense Hunter faced, and that the potential jail time was excessive given the circumstances.

Furthermore, Biden hinted at the possibility of issuing preemptive pardons to prominent figures who clashed with former President Trump, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci and former Rep. Liz Cheney. He suggested that these potential pardons would depend partly on Trump's upcoming appointments to key government positions.

While some defended the pardon as a father's protective instinct, others criticized it as a damaging reversal that undermined the president's credibility. Critics argued that it provided ammunition for Republicans to dismiss Democratic concerns about Trump's actions as mere partisan politics.