Hunter Biden Discusses Father’s Debate Performance
In a recently released interview, Hunter Biden shared insights about his father’s struggles during a particularly challenging debate with then-President Donald Trump in 2024. He revealed that Joe Biden had taken Ambien prior to this “absolutely horrifying” event.
During a three-hour interview with Andrew Callahan, Hunter reflected on his father’s loss in the presidential race and addressed his own journey of recovery from addiction. He remarked, “I know exactly what happened in that discussion. He flew around the world… He’s 81 years old. He’s exhausted. They give him Ambien to help him sleep, and then he gets on stage looking like a deer in the headlights.”
Ambien is a sedative often prescribed for short-term insomnia. The FDA notes that its use can lead to unusual thoughts and behavioral changes, including aggression and extroversion that seem out of character.
While such effects aren’t common, the FDA expresses concern about the use of sedative hypnotics like Ambien in older adults, noting potential impaired motor skills and cognitive performance after frequent use or due to heightened sensitivity.
There had been speculation about Joe Biden’s medication use, which led Trump to suggest he undergo a drug test before their debate. Joe Biden spent nearly a week preparing at Camp David before the event.
A 2018 article from Politico revealed that Ronnie Jackson, a doctor during the Obama administration, often distributed Ambien to West Wing staff and earned the nickname “Candy Man.”
Initially, Hunter was optimistic about the debate, mentioning that his father had recently bested Trump in the previous election, passed a bipartisan bill, and delivered a strong State of the Union address. “We thought they had cleared all the hurdles they had set for us,” he noted.
However, Hunter acknowledged that concerns about his father’s age became apparent during the debate. “My father is getting old right in front of everyone,” he commented, highlighting the broader societal implications regarding aging. He stated, “I realize that they may have lost a physical step, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the mental ability to keep them going.”
Hunter also mentioned that figures like George Clooney and other Democrats supported the idea of replacing Joe with former Vice President Kamala Harris at the debate convention.
