There’s been a subtle but notable shift in the narrative around President Joe Biden’s alleged knowledge of his son Hunter Biden’s foreign business affairs. This comes in anticipation of testimony from Devon Archer, Hunter’s former business partner, before the House Oversight Committee on Monday. Archer’s evidence reportedly includes instances where he witnessed the President engaging in conversations with Hunter’s business associates.
Throughout his presidential campaign and subsequent presidency, Biden has maintained that he has had no involvement in his son’s international business affairs. “I have never discussed with my son or my brother or anyone else anything having to do with their business,” Biden said in August 2019 while on the campaign trail.
This assertion was repeated in response to questions by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy the following month. “I have never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings,” Biden firmly stated.
However, this narrative seems to be under reconsideration as Archer’s testimony looms. When asked on Monday if the President stood by his previous claims of having no knowledge or involvement in Hunter’s business, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded, “The president was never in business with his son.”
It appears to be a slight pivot from the President’s previous claim of having no discussions whatsoever about Hunter’s foreign business dealings. Yet Jean-Pierre insisted on Wednesday that “nothing has changed,” maintaining this stance even when pressed further by reporters.
The details of Archer’s testimony aren’t the only evidence suggesting a deeper involvement of Joe Biden in his son’s business affairs. IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley has unveiled a WhatsApp message dating back to July 2017, which seems to show Hunter pressuring Chinese businessman Henry Zhao, with the apparent endorsement of his father.
In the message, Hunter states, “I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled.” He adds an urgent demand to resolve the issue “before it gets out of hand,” threatening serious consequences for non-compliance.
The coming weeks will potentially reveal further information, shedding more light on the extent of the President’s involvement or knowledge of his son’s overseas business affairs. Until then, it remains to be seen whether the narrative from the White House will shift again.
