President Joe Biden issued a statement Sunday announcing he pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, who faced sentencing on tax evasion and gun charges later this month. The pardon, which clears Hunter from these charges and other potential legal troubles, is a stark reversal from the president’s repeated pledge not to pardon his son or get involved in his case. What does this mean for Hunter Biden, and what are this decision’s social and political impacts?

Biden explains his decision as ‘a father and a President’

Biden explains his decision as ‘a father and a President’

NBC News was the first outlet to report the pardon. Biden, first lady Jill Biden, and multiple spokespersons for the president had repeatedly stated Biden wouldn’t pardon Hunter or interfere in the judicial process concerning his federal cases. Biden reversed that decision Sunday, with the White House confirming the president was issuing a “full and unconditional pardon” for Hunter that covers any crimes that he “committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.” Most notably, this covers federal gun charges and tax evasion charges for which Hunter Biden was scheduled to be sentenced later this month.

While reiterating, “I believe in the justice system,” President Biden said that his son had been prosecuted for political reasons.

“No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong,” Biden said in explaining his decision to pardon 54-year-old son. He added, “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.”

Mixed political reactions to the Biden pardon

The immediate political impact of the announcement has been mixed. Democrats, already showing divisions in the fallout of their 2024 electoral losses, have expressed differing opinions of the decision. Former Attorney General Eric Holder agreed that the pardon was justified, arguing that the cases against Hunter Biden would never have been prosecuted if he were Joe Smith.

On the other hand, Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis tweeted, “I am disappointed that he put his family ahead of the country. This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation.”

The warning by Polis echoes concerns by some that President-elect Donald Trump could use this move to justify pardons for his associates or supporters, while others have pointed out that Trump already pardoned several of his close associates and political allies during his first term. Trump commented on the Biden pardon on his Truth Social platform, calling it “an abuse and miscarriage of justice” and asking if those imprisoned for January 6, who Trump called “hostages,” would also be pardoned; Trump repeatedly suggested during his 2024 campaign that he would pardon many of those convicted for the insurrection.

Hunter pardon fuels calls for President Biden to clear more sentences, debts

Finally, many people on social media have suggested that, now that Biden has used his presidential powers to clear his son, he should issue more sweeping orders before leaving office.

“I truly hope the pardon of Hunter is just the beginning and President Biden will grant thousands of commutations starting tomorrow to those buried alive under draconian federal drug laws,” lawyer and author Brittany K. Barnett tweeted in part.

“My only issue with Biden pardoning Hunter is if he stops there,” human rights lawyer Qasim Rashid commented before listing other pardons and executive orders he thinks Biden should issue before leaving office.

For now, Biden’s pardon gives his son a clean slate. We will see in the coming weeks whether the president extends that same legal grace to others who are incarcerated or facing other challenges similar to his son’s, and the months after that will demonstrate how President Trump and Republicans use this case to further their agendas.

Hunter BidenpardonsPresident Joe Biden