Hunter Biden’s back, swinging at CNN’s Jake Tapper with a sharp rebuke. In a forthcoming podcast, he attempts to dismantle Tapper’s claim that he played “chief of staff” for the Biden family, as The Hill reports. Conservatives might chuckle at the audacity of such a label for a man who has dodged the spotlight like it’s a tax audit.
The former first son, in an interview for Jaime Harrison’s new podcast At Our Table, denied acting as the Biden family’s decision-maker, asserting that he was only in the White House for 12 days over two years. The podcast, launching Thursday with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as its debut guest, promises more of Hunter’s counterattack. This isn’t just a family feud -- it’s a public slap at media overreach.
Tapper’s accusation came during a May interview with Katie Couric while promoting the book Original Sin alongside Axios’ Alex Thompson. He called Hunter’s role in family matters “bizarre” and labeled him “demonstrably unethical.” Such harsh words from Tapper beg the question: Is this journalism or a personal vendetta?
Original Sin dives into Joe Biden’s second-term ambitions and alleged efforts to mask his decline. Tapper’s claim that Hunter was the family’s “chief of staff” paints a picture of undue influence. Yet, Hunter’s rebuttal suggests Tapper’s narrative is more fiction than fact.
Hunter insists he “stayed as far away” from White House decisions as possible. “You ask one person to go on the record that would ever tell you that I was in any way making a single decision about anything,” he challenged. Sounds like a man fed up with being the media’s punching bag.
Tapper didn’t stop at questioning Hunter’s influence. He called him “sleazy” and “prone to horrible decisions,” even dragging up Hunter’s past relationship with Hallie Biden, Beau Biden’s widow. Attacking a man’s character while invoking his late brother’s legacy feels like a low blow.
“Beau was great, upstanding guy,” Tapper said, contrasting him with Hunter. He went further, claiming Hunter introduced Hallie to crack cocaine. Such accusations, thrown without nuance, fuel the conservative case against media bias.
Hunter’s response carries a rare emotional weight. “I stayed as far away as I possibly could. Which, by the way, broke my heart,” he said. For a man who’s kept a low profile since November 2024, this admission hints at personal sacrifice, not scheming.
Tapper’s narrative fits a broader pattern of progressive media framing conservatives’ opponents as villains. Yet Hunter’s limited White House presence—12 days in two years—undercuts the “chief of staff” fantasy. It’s a stretch that even the most creative spin doctor would struggle to sell.
At Our Table, hosted by former DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, aims to give Democrats a platform to reset after 2024’s electoral challenges. Hunter’s episode is poised to be a headline-grabber. Will it redeem his image or just stir more controversy?
Democrats are grappling with their post-2024 identity, with some pointing fingers at Joe Biden for the party’s struggles. Hunter’s decision to speak out now suggests he’s tired of being a scapegoat. The timing feels calculated, but not in the way Tapper might think.
Tapper’s critique leaned heavily on Original Sin, which alleges a cover-up of Joe Biden’s decline. But Hunter’s rebuttal flips the script, portraying him as a son, not a strategist. Conservatives might see this as a refreshing pushback against media overreach.
Hunter’s claim of minimal White House involvement challenges Tapper’s entire premise. If he was barely there, how could he be calling the shots? This discrepancy exposes the shaky ground on which some media narratives are built.
Tapper’s harsh words -- “unethical, sleazy” -- seem designed to provoke rather than inform. Conservatives have long argued that outlets like CNN prioritize sensationalism over substance. Hunter’s rebuttal gives ammo to that critique.
As Democrats lick their wounds in the wake of last November's loss, Hunter’s podcast appearance could signal a broader effort to reclaim the narrative. But with Tapper’s accusations still stinging, the fight for public perception is far from over. For now, Hunter’s 12-day White House claim stands as what he clearly hopes will be a sharp rebuke to overzealous pundits.
