Hunter Biden has acknowledged that the presidential pardon he received from his father, former President Joe Biden, was detrimental both for the United States and for the former president’s legacy. Hunter, 56, spoke candidly about the pardon, which his father granted in December 2024, in the final months of his presidency.

The pardon addressed several federal legal issues Hunter faced, including a conviction for lying about drug use on a 2018 firearm purchase form, as well as a tax-related plea and other offences dating from 2014 through 2024. Joe Biden had previously pledged not to intervene in his son’s legal matters while in office but reversed course with the pardon.

Reflecting on the decision, Hunter said it did not serve the Constitution or the American public well and was unequivocally harmful to his father’s reputation. "Was it good for our Constitution? Was it good for the American people? Was it good for my dad’s legacy? No, on all counts. It was not," he said. However, Hunter also conveyed his gratitude for the pardon, noting the difficult position it placed his father in and expressing understanding that his father’s action was motivated by familial loyalty despite public criticism.

Hunter stressed that he and his father never discussed the pardon in advance. He further revealed details about his past struggles with substance abuse, admitting that at his most severe low point he consumed nearly a gallon of vodka daily and used crack cocaine every 15 minutes. The former president defended the pardon publicly, asserting that Hunter had been subject to selective and unfair prosecution.

Joe Biden, who was 82 when he left office in January 2025, withdrew from the 2024 presidential race after a notably poor debate performance against Donald Trump in July 2024. He subsequently announced his prostate cancer diagnosis, which Hunter disclosed has since metastasized. In an emotional interview, Hunter described his father’s health condition as severe and painful, with the cancer spreading into his bones.

“It’s very painful and it’s very debilitating in many respects,” Hunter commented, describing the toll the illness has taken on his father. He also expressed a wish that the former president would be more forthcoming about the difficulties he faces, saying, “I wish he would complain more, because it’s not good.” Despite these challenges, Hunter emphasized that Joe Biden remains active and engaged, continuing to advocate for the country.

“I’ve been watching him do his thing,” Hunter said. “He so believes in this country.”