Former first lady Jill Biden is publicly celebrating what she calls a new chapter for her son, Hunter Biden, hailing his recent media blitz as his "time to shine" even as critics see something far less flattering in his sudden prominence.
In a wide-ranging conversation on the podcast hosted by entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima, Jill Biden embraced the idea that Hunter could be the "next star" in the Biden family, a notion rooted not in public service or policy achievements but in his growing social media footprint and a string of sympathetic podcast appearances. According to Fox News, Kern Lima pointed to Hunters recent interviews, in which he has spoken at length about his long-documented struggles with addiction and his personal life, and asked the former first lady directly, "How do you and President Biden feel about his recent explosion?"
Jill Biden responded with unqualified enthusiasm, framing Hunters media surge as a story of redemption and authenticity rather than a calculated rebranding effort amid ongoing controversy. "Were just so proud of him, that he can be so honest and say things other people wont say, and feel comfortable with it, because hes been through it," she said, adding, "I think now is Hunters time to shine. Hes doing really good things."
The former first lady went on to describe what she sees as a dramatic turnaround in her sons life, casting his past scandals and legal troubles as the dark backdrop to a hopeful new narrative. She argued that adversity had ultimately produced something positive, saying it was "amazing" how circumstances had shifted and insisting that good can emerge from bad.
Jill Biden also revisited the painful spectacle of Hunters legal battles, particularly the moment his own words were used against him in court through the audio version of his memoir. "But as parents, one of the toughest things I had to do was when Hunter was taken to court, and they played his book on tape in the courtroom, to hear him tell his story in his own words," she recalled, emphasizing the emotional toll on the family.
"I mean, it was like so heartbreaking. And I had my daughter Ashley, our daughter Ashley, next to me and it's just hearing the sound of his voice talking about it," she continued, underscoring the personal anguish behind the public drama. "And that's why I think, I don't know, it's amazing how things have turned around. So you see, I do believe a lot of times that good things come from bad things," Biden said.
Kern Lima, whose tone throughout the interview was notably admiring, echoed that sense of momentum and suggested that Hunters new media presence is resonating with audiences. "He's now coming out and sharing, and people are listening to what he has to say. And it's just, there is something happening," she said, before doubling down on her sense that a political or cultural moment is building around the presidents son.
"And I can spot momentum a million miles away. There's something happening with Hunter Biden right now. Something's happening," Kern Lima added, framing Hunter less as a controversial figure under scrutiny and more as a rising personality with a growing following. Jill Biden readily agreed with that assessment, affirming that "something good" is indeed happening for her son.
Hunter Bidens recent media tour has included appearances on NPRs "Newsmakers" and the podcasts of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, former CNN anchor Don Lemon and the show "I've Had It." He has also sat down with Barstool Sports and joined "The View" co-host Ana Navarro on her program, "Bleep!", a lineup that leans heavily on liberal and entertainment platforms rather than outlets likely to challenge him from the right.
Conservative media watchdogs, however, see the spectacle in starkly different terms, questioning both the timing and the substance of this carefully curated exposure. When reached for comment by Fox News Digital, Newsbusters Managing Editor Curtis Houck responded to Jill Biden's remarks: "'Time to shine' is certainly one way to put it. I would certainly think of it as a cry for help or a plea for attention. Clearly, no one is interested in Hunter's terrible artwork, and since there's no serious influence left to peddle from anyone on Team Biden, the money spigot has dried up."
Houck argued that the medias embrace of Hunter Biden is less about redemption and more about ideological loyalty and self-interest within the liberal press. He continued, "All these interviews with rancorous figures in the podcasting world have shown is that the liberal, elitist media's protections of the Biden family for so long were solely out of self-preservation and their visceral hatred of Donald Trump (even though he's tremendous for their bottom lines). There's nothing hip, intriguing, or even stimulating about this crash-out."
On Barstool Sports' "Macrodosing" podcast, even a generally light-hearted sports and culture show could not resist hinting at political ambition behind Hunters omnipresence. During the conversation, the host known as Big Tennessee said, "As I see you making the rounds, it just seems like a guy who might want to run for something. And then I saw you come in the building today."
The host described Hunters reception at the studio as reminiscent of a candidate on the rise, suggesting a level of orchestrated enthusiasm. The welcome, he said, was "of somebody that wants to run."
Hunter Biden brushed off the speculation, insisting he has no plans to seek office, at least for now. "I'm definitely not running for anything," Biden said, joking that if he secured the Barstool host's endorsement he might.
Kern Lima pressed the political angle further in her own interview with Jill Biden, asking what she and President Joe Biden would tell Hunter if he expressed a desire to run for president. The first part of the interview ended before the former first lady could answer, leaving that question hanging and fueling further conjecture about the familys long-term political calculations.
Hunter has also used his media appearances to defend his father and reframe the narrative around President Bidens widely criticized 2024 debate performance. On the "Macrodosing" podcast, he described his shock at seeing his father onstage that night, offering a medical explanation that the White House did not disclose until months later.
"My dad walked out and he literally, for the first time in my life, Ive ever seen this, he looked like a deer in the headlights. He looked blank," Hunter said, painting a picture that aligned with what millions of viewers saw but that Democrats have often tried to downplay. "And what do I attribute that to? I mean, we didnt find out until nine months later that he not only had Stage 4 prostate cancer, but he had Stage 4 metastatic bone cancer, which means that it had been metastasizing for over a three-year period of time," he said.
Biden's cancer diagnosis was not revealed until last year, raising fresh questions about transparency, fitness for office and what voters were told during a critical election cycle. Hunter Biden said during the interview that his father's debate performance came as a complete surprise to him and that he hadn't seen him like that before that night, a claim that may comfort loyal supporters but is unlikely to quiet concerns among Americans who expect full disclosure and accountability from those who seek the highest office in the land.
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