President Joe Biden has built a brand over the decades as a family man, often referencing his late mother in speeches, expressing affection for his wife, and even accommodating his granddaughter and her husband in the White House. However, a recent controversy involving his seventh grandchild, born following a brief encounter between his son Hunter Biden and an Arkansas woman, has raised concerns among Democrats and the public.
While President Biden has been vocal about his love for his grandchildren and speaks to them daily, his seventh grandchild remains unacknowledged. A recent New York Times story and a scathing op-ed by Maureen Dowd have brought this issue to the forefront, questioning the president’s decision not to recognize the four-year-old child.
A Messenger/Harris poll conducted by HarrisX indicates that 55% of voters believe the president should acknowledge his seventh grandchild, while 45% believe it should remain a private family matter. The breakdown by party shows that approximately 4 in 10 Democrats, 6 in 10 independents, and 7 in 10 Republicans think Biden should acknowledge the child.
According to the Times, Biden aides have been instructed to refer to the president as having six grandchildren, excluding the seventh. The child reportedly speaks of her grandfather and father frequently but has never met them. Hunter Biden initially resisted using his surname for the child, but her mother eventually dropped the request.
Democratic strategist Brad Bannon believes that this issue could undermine Biden’s image as a nice guy and family man, which has been a core aspect of his appeal. Julian Zelizer, a presidential historian at Princeton University, also suggests that it may harm Biden’s standing with voters, as his emphasis on family has been a significant part of his character.
Despite the potential impact, public awareness of the story remains relatively low, with only a third of voters having heard about it, according to the Messenger/Harris poll. Additionally, 57% of voters said the news had no effect on their opinion of Biden, including a majority of Democrats and independents. However, for 33% of voters, the story negatively influenced their view of the president.
To date, the White House has chosen not to comment on the matter, deflecting questions about whether Biden acknowledges the child. Some Democrats express concerns about the president’s handling of the issue but are hesitant to speak out publicly against him or his campaign team. The situation is viewed as a potential problem that the White House needs to address before it affects the campaign.
Republicans, seizing the opportunity, are highlighting the story to question Biden’s sincerity. They argue that if Biden values family, he should acknowledge his seventh grandchild. Former President Donald Trump, who has had his own family controversies, has so far remained silent on the matter.
While the issue of Biden’s seventh grandchild looms over his campaign, Trump’s past troubles, such as hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, continue to be a topic of discussion. Some speculate that Trump might invite the mother of Biden’s granddaughter to a debate, as he has previously used similar tactics to create controversy.
The conservative press has covered the snub of Biden’s granddaughter, drawing comparisons between Biden and Trump. However, some argue that the moral implications and character of the two individuals are incomparable.
As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Biden administration will address the issue and whether it will have a lasting impact on the public’s perception of the president.
