Hunter Biden: Pardon ‘not good for’ my father’s legacy

The son of Joe Biden was pardoned of federal gun charges by his father in 2024 before he was due to be sentenced on firearms charges. The pardon covered any federal offences committed between January 2014 and December 2024.

The former president, who left office in January 2025, repeatedly insisted that he would not pardon his son, but said he ultimately intervened because Hunter had been “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted”.

Hunter Biden has now acknowledged that the decision was damaging to his father and the country.

“Was it good for our Constitution? Was it good for the American people? Was it good for my dad’s legacy? No, on all counts. It was not,” he told BBC’s Newsnight on Friday. “It was something that is easily criticised and for good reason. And I can’t pretend otherwise.”

He added: “All I know is that I’m grateful that he did it for me and all I can say to anybody out there is – what would you have thought of my dad if he did not do that for me and left me to the whims of Donald Trump?”

Hunter Biden, who has repeatedly been targeted by Donald Trump and his allies, said the pardon had protected him from the new president’s “revenge and retribution”.

He was convicted in federal court in Delaware in June 2024 of three felony offences relating to a gun purchase.

Prosecutors said he had lied on a federal form by stating that he was not an unlawful user of, or addicted to, drugs when he bought the firearm.

Hunter Biden has previously spoken openly about his struggles with crack cocaine addiction.

Joe Biden repeatedly denied having plans to pardon his son, but in a statement in December 2024, he said: “Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter.

“From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.”

Father’s cancer worsens

Hunter Biden also gave an update on his father’s health after the former president was diagnosed with prostate cancer in May 2025 that had spread to his bones.

“The only thing that I say about my dad, about his health right now, is I wish he would complain more, because it’s not good,” he said.

“The cancer has spread, it’s metastasised into his bones and further. It’s very painful, and it’s very debilitating in many respects, but he’s still out there.

“He’s still doing this thing that – he so believes in this country. And as long as he’s alive, I promise you he’s going to continue to fight.”