Whoopi Goldberg offered a robust defense of President Joe Biden's decision to issue a sweeping pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, during Monday's episode of The View. The move, which has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, has reignited debates about fairness, family loyalty, and political transparency.
Biden's pardon covers any crimes Hunter Biden may have committed between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024, a move the president justified as a necessary response to what he called selective prosecution. "From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department's decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted," Biden said in a Sunday statement. Critics argue that the broad scope of the pardon is an effort to shield Hunter from further investigations, including his dealings with Ukrainian energy company Burisma.
Goldberg defended the president, pointing to Hunter's struggles with addiction as a mitigating factor. Hunter was addicted to drugs and didn't know what he was doing, Goldberg argued, adding that this situation is "very different than any other situation that we have ever dealt with." She contrasted Hunter's actions with former President Donald Trump's legal troubles, stating that Trump "didn't have a drug problem" and "knew what he was doing."
The discussion became heated as co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump White House official, expressed her disappointment with Biden's reversal on the pardon. "He said so many times he wasn't going to pardon him. That, to me, is lying to the public," Griffin said, emphasizing that such decisions fuel public distrust in political institutions.
Goldberg interrupted, saying, "I would stop calling it a lie." She suggested that Biden initially had no plans to pardon his son but changed course as the legal pressure on Hunter escalated. "I think the more stuff that went down, he said, 'Why am I busting my behind to stay straight when no one else is?'" Goldberg hypothesized.
The controversy stems from Hunter Biden's legal issues, including a June conviction for lying on a federal form to purchase a firearm and nine felony tax evasion charges to which he pleaded guilty in September. Despite the criminal charges, Biden maintains that his son was unfairly targeted because of their familial relationship. "No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter's cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son-and that is wrong," Biden stated.
Critics within Biden's own party have not held back. Colorado Governor Jared Polis tweeted, "While as a father I certainly understand President @JoeBiden's natural desire to help his son by pardoning him, I am disappointed that he put his family ahead of the country." Congressman Greg Stanton of Arizona echoed this sentiment, stating, "Hunter committed felonies and was convicted by a jury of his peers. This wasn't a politically-motivated prosecution."
Republicans have seized on the issue, with former President Trump accusing Biden of hypocrisy. "Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has insisted that Biden's decision was made only after careful deliberation. "The president always believes in being truthful to the American people," Jean-Pierre said when pressed about the apparent contradiction between Biden's past statements and his actions.
Goldberg's defense of Biden on The View concluded with a broader reflection on political accountability. "It's a precedent for all of us to open our eyes," she said. "We've elected somebody who was in a similar situation, who didn't have a drug problem, who knew what he was doing. So let's not lose sight of the bigger picture."
