Jake Tapper harshly criticized Hunter Biden as unethical and reckless, claiming his influence over President Biden contributed to the decision to seek a second term.

Tapper Questions Hunter Biden’s Role in White House

Veteran CNN anchor Jake Tapper unleashed scathing criticism of Hunter Biden during a podcast discussion with Katie Couric, accusing the president’s son of being “demonstrably unethical” and asserting that his presence in the White House has been harmful. Tapper appeared alongside Axios reporter Alex Thompson on Couric’s “Next Question” podcast to promote their new book, Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.

During the conversation, Tapper described Hunter Biden as having an outsized role in the Biden administration, claiming he acted “almost like a chief of staff.” Tapper said, “It’s bizarre because I think he is provably, demonstrably unethical, sleazy and prone to horrible decisions.” Couric replied, “Tell me how you really feel,” to which Tapper doubled down, citing Hunter’s personal scandals and saying, “I don’t have a lot of personal regard for him.”

Tapper contrasted Hunter with his late brother, Beau Biden, whom he praised as an upstanding public servant. Beau, a former Delaware attorney general, was viewed as the future of the Biden political legacy before dying of cancer in 2015. “Hunter is not [everything Beau was], and the idea of letting him drive the family car, as it were, is just really, really questionable,” Tapper said.

Influence on President Biden’s Decision to Run

Tapper and Thompson both suggested that protecting Hunter from potential legal consequences influenced President Biden’s decision to seek a second term. Thompson added that Hunter “abused” his relationship with his father at times, raising concerns about the ethical implications of his access to the administration.

This was not always Tapper’s public stance. During Biden’s first campaign, Tapper was hesitant to cover allegations against Hunter, calling them “too disgusting” to report. However, by 2023, Tapper had become more vocal in questioning the administration’s handling of Hunter’s foreign business ties, ethics concerns, and legal risks.

“Look, I mean, Hunter Biden is who he is. It's pretty clear who he is,” Tapper said in a 2023 segment. “In addition to being an addict, he's a guy who ethically — there have been questions raised about his behavior, and I think it's worth covering.”

Tapper also accused President Biden of misleading the public by claiming he would not pardon his son, only to do so at the end of his term. The remarks have reignited discussion around the administration’s transparency and accountability.

Hunter Responds and Tensions Resurface

Hunter Biden responded to Tapper’s remarks in an interview with Breaker, saying he was “furious” with the journalist for repeatedly reaching out during Beau’s final days to obtain information. According to Breaker, the two had a heated confrontation at the 2018 Super Bowl over the incident.

A spokesperson for Tapper denied any inappropriate conduct surrounding Beau Biden’s illness and noted that Tapper has continued to receive high-profile interviews, including co-moderating the 2024 presidential debate.

As scrutiny of Hunter Biden’s past and ongoing influence grows, the tensions between media figures like Tapper and the Biden family underscore the political and personal complexities shadowing the president’s reelection campaign.