President Joe Biden has publicly acknowledged his seventh grandchild for the first time, following criticism that he had ignored the daughter of his son Hunter Biden and a woman from Arkansas.[0] The acknowledgment came in a statement to People Magazine, where the president stated that Hunter and the child's mother, Lunden, are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter, Navy Joan Roberts.[1] The president emphasized that this is not a political issue but a family matter, and that he and his wife Jill only want what is best for all of their grandchildren, including Navy.[2]
The acknowledgment of Navy Joan Roberts comes after months of speculation and criticism from Republicans, who accused President Biden of deliberately excluding the child from his tight family circle. In April, during a White House event, Biden claimed to have only six grandchildren, raising questions about his relationship with Navy.[3] The president's reluctance to openly acknowledge his seventh grandchild had become a political issue, with Republicans attempting to use it as a way to tarnish his image as a family man.
The paternity of Navy Joan Roberts had been a subject of legal proceedings, with Hunter Biden initially denying that he was the father.[4] However, court filings confirmed through a paternity test that Hunter is indeed the child's father. Recently, Hunter Biden settled the paternity case with Roberts, which includes child support, a college fund, and an undisclosed number of Hunter's paintings.[5] Hunter's personal and professional life has been a target of Republican attacks against President Biden, and the paternity case added to the criticism.[2]
The Biden family's handling of the situation has been met with mixed reactions.[6] Some argue that as grandparents, the Bidens are following Hunter's lead and giving him and Lunden the space and time to figure things out.[7] They believe that the privacy of the child should be respected, and that thousands of families have faced similar circumstances. However, others argue that the president's failure to publicly acknowledge Navy Joan Roberts goes against his image as a caring family man and is out of sync with the America he wants to lead.
President Biden's family has been an important aspect of his political career, with his grandchildren often mentioned in his speeches. He has credited his grandchildren with encouraging him to run for president and has spoken proudly of their role in his life.[8] The exclusion of Navy Joan Roberts from public acknowledgment and the hanging of stockings in the White House during Christmas has raised questions about the president's view of family and has been seen by some as a deliberate snub.[9]
As President Biden continues his term and prepares for a potential re-election campaign, his handling of family matters will likely remain under scrutiny. The acknowledgment of Navy Joan Roberts is seen by some as a step in the right direction, but there are still questions about whether the president will welcome her to the White House and establish a personal relationship with her. The Biden family's dynamics and how they handle these issues will continue to shape the public's perception of the president as a family man.
0. “Biden Acknowledges Hunter's Daughter for the First Time” The Wall Street Journal, 28 Jul. 2023, https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-acknowledges-hunters-daughter-for-the-first-time-9ea6f365
1. “Biden publicly acknowledges 7th grandchild for first time” Al Jazeera English, 29 Jul. 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/29/biden-publicly-acknowledges-7th-grandchild-for-first-time
2. “Biden acknowledges Hunter's daughter Navy in public for first time” The Independent, 29 Jul. 2023, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/biden-hunter-granddaughter-navy-paternity-b2384060.html
3. “Biden finally speaks out on granddaughter he refused to acknowledge for years” Fox News, 28 Jul. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-finally-speaks-granddaughter-refused-acknowledge-years
4. “Republicans up the personal attacks on Biden and his family” NBC News, 23 Jul. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/republicans-personal-attacks-biden-family-granddaughter-grandkid-rcna95667
5. “Joe Biden publicly acknowledges seventh grandchild for the first time” The Telegraph, 29 Jul. 2023, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/07/29/joe-biden-publicly-acknowledges-seventh-grandchild/
6. “President Joe Biden Publicly Identifies 7th Grandchild for First Time – E! Online” E! NEWS, 29 Jul. 2023, https://www.eonline.com/news/1381667/president-joe-biden-publicly-identifies-his-7th-grandchild-for-first-time
7. “Bidens publicly acknowledge their seventh grandchild for the first time” East Idaho News, 29 Jul. 2023, https://www.eastidahonews.com/2023/07/bidens-publicly-acknowledge-their-seventh-grandchild-for-the-first-time/
8. “No, NBC, Joe Biden's Role As A Grandpa Is Not His ‘Political Strength'” Outkick, 24 Jul. 2023, https://www.outkick.com/no-nbc-joe-bidens-role-as-a-grandpa-is-not-his-political-strength/
9. “‘I only want what is best,’ Biden publically acknowledges 7th grandchild, Navy” Hindustan Times, 29 Jul. 2023, https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/joe-biden-publically-acknowledges-7th-grandchild-i-only-want-what-is-best-for-hunter-s-daughter-navy-101690592362473.html
