On Friday, President Joe Biden publicly recognized his seventh grandchild, a 4-year-old girl born to his son Hunter Biden and an Arkansas woman, Lunden Roberts, back in 2018. This marks the first time Biden has publicly acknowledged this grandchild, bringing the matter to a close after a period of uncertainty and public criticism.
Hunter Biden and Navy’s mother, Lunden Roberts, are collaborating to foster a relationship that will best serve their daughter, according to a statement Biden gave to People magazine. They intend to preserve the little girl’s privacy as much as possible moving forward.
Biden emphasized the personal, rather than political, nature of the situation, stating, “This is not a political issue, it’s a family matter.” He, alongside First Lady Jill Biden, wishes only the best for all their grandchildren, Navy included.
The paternity of the child was initially disputed by Hunter Biden until DNA testing confirmed his parentage in 2019. Since then, Hunter and Roberts have reached a settlement concerning child support issues.
In accordance with their agreement, their daughter Navy will not be permitted to use the Biden name. However, she will receive some of her father’s paintings. This concession could be seen as a nod towards preserving a sense of family connection.
Hunter Biden has been transparent about the circumstances of his encounter with Roberts, detailing it in his 2021 memoir. He admits that he was battling an addiction to alcohol and drugs, including crack cocaine, at the time and has no recollection of the encounter. Nevertheless, he has claimed responsibility for his actions, saying, “I was a mess, but a mess I’ve taken responsibility for.”
President Biden, who has consistently centered his public image around the value of family, has faced mounting criticism for previously declining to acknowledge the Navy. In fact, he has previously stated to aides that he has six grandchildren, not seven. However, with this recent public recognition, it appears the Biden family is making efforts toward greater transparency and familial unity.
