Hunter Biden: Father's pardon 'not good' for America or his legacy, he tells BBC

Hunter Biden, son of former US President Joe Biden, has said that the presidential pardon he received from his father in December 2024 was "not good" for America or for his father's legacy. In a wide-ranging interview with the BBC's Newsnight programme, he also described himself as "the most privileged person there is" after receiving the pardon.

Asked about the pardon, Mr Biden acknowledged the criticism it attracted, saying "It's something that is easily criticised and for good reason." He added that he was grateful his father made the decision. "All I know is that I'm grateful that he did it for me," he said, while conceding that the pardon was "not fair" and not beneficial to the American people, the Constitution, or his father's historical standing.

Mr Biden argued that his father acted out of concern that he would become a target under the incoming administration of President Donald Trump. "I was the only one in the world that could have gotten what I got from the only person in the world who could give it, my father," he told the BBC.

He also insisted that he and his father had never discussed the possibility of a pardon before it was granted. "There is no way that you can have those kinds of discussions that would not become public," he said.

President Joe Biden granted his son a full and unconditional pardon in December 2024, despite having repeatedly stated earlier that he would not use his presidential powers to intervene in his son's legal cases. In announcing the decision, the former president said his son had been "selectively and unfairly prosecuted."

The pardon covered Hunter Biden's federal gun conviction, a tax case to which he had pleaded guilty, and any federal offences committed between 2014 and 2024. The scope of the pardon was broader than what had been anticipated, as it encompassed potential past offences beyond the two known cases.

During the interview, Hunter Biden also reflected on his father's declining health, saying that the former president is "doing well" but is "not in great health." He spoke about his own journey of recovery from addiction and his work helping others struggling with substance abuse, saying that he feels a responsibility to use his experiences to assist those in similar situations.

When asked about his own political ambitions, Mr Biden ruled out seeking elected office. He said he prefers to work behind the scenes and focus on his family and recovery efforts.

The interview has drawn attention because of the rarity of a sitting or former president's child receiving such a pardon, and because of the public statements made by Joe Biden prior to the decision. Legal experts have noted that the pardon's wording was unusually broad, covering any offences that may have been committed over a decade-long period.

Hunter Biden's comments are his first extended public remarks since the pardon was granted. The BBC interview aired on [date] and has been widely discussed in the United States and abroad.