Whoopi Goldberg, co-host of The View, came to President Joe Biden’s defense during a tense debate over his recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, on Tuesday’s episode. Goldberg clashed with Alyssa Farah Griffin, the show’s sole conservative voice, as the panel discussed the controversial decision.
Hunter Biden’s pardon absolves him of any federal crimes committed between 2014 and 2024, encompassing his time on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma and other alleged influence-peddling schemes involving his father. Despite the controversy, Goldberg argued the pardon was justified, rejecting claims that Biden had lied about his intentions.
The exchange between Goldberg and Griffin was particularly contentious, as Griffin criticized the optics of the pardon and its implications for public trust:
Griffin: “I understand why you would do it, but I wonder if you understand why you lie about it for so long.”
Goldberg: “I would stop calling it a lie.”
Griffin: “Okay, why repeatedly say you’re not going to and you do? And secondarily, for the part of this country, half of it that doesn’t support Biden, doesn’t know him personally, doesn’t get to have phone calls, and they’re just looking at a system that seems like it only benefits the people who are in power. What precedent does that set?”
Goldberg: “Well, here’s what it sets. It’s a precedent for all of us to open our eyes because we’ve elected someone who is in a similar situation, who didn’t have a drug problem, who knew what he was doing, who clearly stood and said, I can do this, and he did it. So I think, for many, many reasons, this is very different than any other situation that we have ever dealt with.”
Goldberg’s defense aligns with Biden’s own justification for the pardon. In a statement issued Sunday, Biden claimed his son had been unfairly targeted due to their familial connection.
“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 wrote. He emphasized Hunter’s five years of sobriety and resilience in the face of what he described as “unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution.”
Critics argue the pardon undermines public confidence in the justice system, raising concerns about preferential treatment for the politically powerful. Griffin voiced this sentiment, suggesting the decision set a troubling precedent for a system that should prioritize fairness.
The debate underscores the growing divide in public opinion over Hunter Biden’s legal troubles and the president’s use of his pardon power. While Goldberg insists the situation is unique, skeptics argue it reflects a troubling double standard in accountability for those in power.
