Biden publicly acknowledges seventh grandchild, daughter of son Hunter and Arkansas lady

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday for the primary time publicly acknowledged his seventh grandchild, a four-year-old woman fathered by his son Hunter with an Arkansas lady, Lunden Roberts, in 2018.

“Our son Hunter and Navy’s mother, Lunden, are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter, preserving her privacy as much as possible going forward,” Biden stated in an announcement. It was his first acknowledgement of the kid.

“This is not a political issue, it’s a family matter,” he stated. “Jill and I only want what is best for all of our grandchildren, including Navy.”

Hunter Biden’s paternity was established by DNA testing after Roberts sued for baby assist, and the 2 events not too long ago resolved excellent baby assist points. The president’s son wrote about his encounter with Roberts in his 2021 memoir, saying it got here whereas he was deep in dependancy to alcohol and medicines, together with crack cocaine.

“I had no recollection of our encounter,” he wrote. “That’s how little connection I had with anyone. I was a mess, but a mess I’ve taken responsibility for.”

The president, who has made a dedication to household central to his public persona, has confronted growing criticism from political rivals and pundits for failing to acknowledge the granddaughter. According to an individual aware of the matter, he was taking the cue from his son whereas the authorized proceedings performed out. The individual spoke on situation of anonymity to debate non-public issues.