Hunter Biden tells BBC his pardon was 'not good' for America or his father's legacy

What the report says

Hunter Biden told the BBC that the presidential pardon granted to him by his father, former US President Joe Biden, was not good for the American people or for Joe Biden’s legacy, while saying he remained grateful for it. In a wide-ranging Newsnight interview, he defended the decision, argued his father acted out of concern that he could be targeted under Donald Trump’s incoming administration, and said he and his father never discussed the possibility beforehand. The pardon, issued in December 2024, covered Hunter Biden’s federal gun conviction, a tax case he had pleaded guilty to, and other federal offences dating back to 2014.

The interview also touched on Joe Biden’s health. Hunter Biden became emotional when speaking about his father’s cancer, describing it as painful and debilitating and saying the former president remains the center of the family. He said he wished his father would complain more and recalled being shocked by Joe Biden’s June 2024 debate performance, which contributed to the end of his re-election campaign.

Hunter Biden also ruled out a future in elected office, saying he had no interest in politics. Instead, he said he wants to focus on addiction and recovery advocacy, which he described as an issue that can connect people across political divides. The BBC interview adds a personal dimension to long-running public debate over the pardon and Joe Biden’s final year in office.