Hunter Biden had a wide-ranging and tumultuous discussion on the Channel 5 podcast over the weekend, where he seemed to voice a lot of pent-up frustrations. He spent around three hours chatting with host Andrew Callahan, targeting various figures like Donald Trump and George Clooney while airing his political grievances. Here are five standout moments from that conversation.
1. Clooney’s Impact on Campaigns
Biden didn’t hold back when discussing George Clooney, suggesting that the actor, with the backing of Barack Obama and his team, actually hindered his father’s re-election campaign. He referred to Clooney in less than flattering terms, mentioning a guest essay in The New York Times that called for Biden’s withdrawal from the race shortly after a tough debate against Trump.
He expressed disappointment, saying, “Joe Biden isn’t the strong candidate he once was, and what we all saw in that debate was concerning.” He then recounted an incident where Clooney was called out for not being truthful about Joe Biden’s struggles.
2. Biden’s Comments on Immigration
3. Reflections on His Father’s Debate Performance
Biden got animated when discussing his father’s debate performance, revealing that his dad had used sleep aids like Ambien while on the campaign trail. He remarked on his father’s exhaustion, pointing out how it affected his performance during the debate, observing, “He looked lost, like a deer caught in headlights.” He took a jab at how that moment fed into the narrative surrounding Joe’s capabilities.
4. Critique of Democratic Strategists
The younger Biden didn’t spare Democratic strategists either, blaming some, like David Axelrod and James Kerrville, for his father’s campaign troubles. He slammed them for not understanding what voters truly wanted. He referred to them as “white billionaires” who have benefited from being close to Obama for years, and he questioned their ability to represent the voices of marginalized communities.
5. Acknowledgment of Kamala Harris
While Biden praised Kamala Harris, calling her a significant support for his father, he criticized other key figures like Nancy Pelosi for not backing her sufficiently. “She did what she could for my dad, and I think she’s fantastic,” he said, expressing his disappointment over the lack of unity in the party during the elections. He conveyed that a major reason his father retained loyalty was the need for people to feel included.
