Biden has increasingly turned to his family as he battles calls from Democratic lawmakers for him to drop out of the 2024 presidential bid.
Jill Biden and Hunter Biden are among the president’s closest advisers, and much of the public attention has shifted to them since his disastrous performance in last week’s debate. The first lady is seen as the only person capable of persuading Biden to drop out of the race, but the eldest son has also been meeting with advisers to deal with the fallout from the debate.
The Biden family gathered at Camp David over the weekend after the debate, and upon returning to Washington on Monday, Hunter Biden entered the White House and joined his father, as he has done at times since taking office.
The White House later confirmed that Hunter Biden had assisted his father after the debate and had also taken part in meetings to prepare for the president’s speech on the Supreme Court’s immunity decision, scheduled for later that day, spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said.
The close-knit Biden family, particularly first lady Jill Biden and her son Hunter Biden, are known for their loyalty and defensiveness towards the president, and Biden’s reliance on them in times of crisis, such as the continued calls for him to drop out of the race after his disastrous debate performance, is a testament to that relationship.
“He has always relied on Hunter because of his political and media savvy, and like Jill, he brings the wisdom and experience of being on the front lines of American politics for the past 40 years,” said Michael LaRosa, who served as press secretary to First Lady Jill Biden during the 2020 campaign. “Hunter and Beau [Biden] In 1987, Jill and I were in the room with our advisors when we were deciding what to do.”
Hunter Biden was in the audience at the Medal of Honor ceremony again at the White House on Wednesday. The White House and President Biden have been trying to halt any confusion about the election since the debate, with the president insisting he will continue to campaign. But Democratic activists, former aides and two current House Democrats have called on Biden to step aside.
“Perhaps more than any recent president, Joe Biden relies on his family for advice, guidance and comfort, and after what has been an incredibly difficult few days, it would be surprising if he wasn’t surrounded by them,” said Biden ally and former Rep. Chris Carney (D-Pennsylvania).
“The president understands that whatever decision he makes about the campaign will impact his family as well, and listening to them is a very important part of his decision-making process,” added Carney, senior policy adviser at Nossaman.
Biden has called Democratic congressional leaders and state governors in recent days to reassure his party that he intends to serve another four years in office, and has spoken to campaign staff to reassure them he is staying in the race, while White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients has spoken to White House staff, telling them to hold their heads up high.
But Hunter Biden is expected to raise questions at the White House meeting, especially since he was indicted last month on federal firearms charges. Hunter Biden has drawn the ire of Republicans, and House Republicans have focused on him as part of their impeachment inquiry, which has been largely stalled in recent months.
LaRosa said Hunter Biden’s public dealings with Republicans during the investigation demonstrate his political and media power, which could be useful to his father.
“[Hunter] “He used his incredible media skills to defeat House Republicans and send Jim Comer to the dustbin of history,” he said.
LaRosa added that when she saw reports that Hunter Biden was attending the White House meeting, she said, “Thank goodness. I’ve finally found someone with a keen sense of the media.”
Some argue it could be a problem that Biden remains in the running for office in 2024 despite the controversy surrounding his eldest son, while surrounding himself with extremely close and loyal allies even as many others call for him to reconsider.
“I think one of the problems with this is that they don’t have a very broad base of support, and I think the people who are close to that base have lost a lot of credibility with people on the outside,” said one Democratic lobbyist and donor.
Jill Biden and her potential power have been thrust into the spotlight like never before following the debate, with much attention being paid to her role in presidential decision-making. Not only has she been Biden’s defender, but she has made it clear at fundraisers and in the media that she believes Biden is the best person for the job.
Sources stress that the first lady and Biden family are the most influential voices to the president, especially during times of turmoil. The president’s sister, Valerie Biden Owens, is also an influential and loyal aide to the president who has helped make decisions throughout his political career.
“I don’t know who could convince the president to drop out of the race. I don’t think there are any outside advisers or other elected officials, other than his family, who could convince him not to do it,” said a former Clinton aide.
NBC This week, sources familiar with the White House reported that Hunter Biden had “dropped in” on several meetings and calls with the president, eliciting reactions from some senior staffers like, “What the hell is going on?”
One former White House aide described the relationship to The Hill as, “If you work for Joe Biden, you know he loves his family and his family is close to him.”
“So it’s not all that surprising that he would lean on his family, along with his aides, in this moment,” a former White House aide said. “His support system is secondary to the question, ‘Can he get through this moment?'”
