California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed disappointment with President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, in a move that has sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party. Speaking to POLITICO on Tuesday, Newsom criticized the president for breaking his promise not to pardon his son.
“With everything the president and his family have been through, I completely understand the instinct to protect Hunter,” Newsom said. “But I took the president at his word. So by definition, I’m disappointed and can’t support the decision.”
A Rare Critique from a Loyal Ally
Newsom’s comments mark a stark departure from his previously unwavering support for Biden. While refraining from discussing the moral or political implications of the pardon, Newsom focused on the breach of trust, pointing to Biden’s repeated assertions that he would not intervene in his son’s legal troubles.
The California governor has been one of Biden’s most prominent defenders, advocating for his policies and leadership over the past two years. Newsom even credited Biden with helping him survive a 2021 GOP-led recall effort, where Biden headlined a major rally in Southern California.
A Personal Connection to the Bidens
Newsom’s ties to the Biden family run deep. He has privately communicated with Hunter Biden in the past, including a 2014 email offering words of encouragement after Hunter’s discharge from the Navy Reserve. Despite this, Newsom has largely avoided commenting publicly on Hunter Biden’s legal controversies, including allegations of influence peddling and leveraging his father’s name.
When asked last year about the younger Biden’s business dealings, Newsom downplayed their significance, saying, “If that’s the new criteria, there are a lot of folks in a lot of industries… where people have family members trying to parlay influence. That’s hardly unique.”
A Turning Point in Their Relationship?
Newsom’s remarks come just two weeks after a private meeting with Biden at the White House, where the governor lobbied for federal disaster relief and expanded healthcare programs. The sudden rift raises questions about how the pardon could impact the relationship between two of the Democratic Party’s most high-profile figures.
The White House declined to comment on Newsom’s criticism. However, Newsom’s rebuke signals growing unease among Democrats about the political fallout from Biden’s sweeping pardon, which covers all federal crimes Hunter Biden may have committed from 2014 to 2024.
As the controversy unfolds, Newsom’s unexpected critique positions him as one of the most prominent voices within his party to challenge the president’s decision, underscoring the broader tensions surrounding the issue.
