On Tuesday’s episode of The View, co-host Whoopi Goldberg passionately defended President Joe Biden’s controversial decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, sparking a tense debate with fellow co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin. The discussion revolved around whether Biden’s actions set a problematic precedent and how they might influence public perception of fairness in the justice system.
The pardon, issued on Sunday evening, absolves Hunter Biden of all federal crimes committed between 2014 and 2024. This timeline notably includes the period when Hunter served on the board of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma—a role critics have described as influence-peddling linked to his father’s political position.
President Biden, in his statement, defended his decision, claiming that his son had been unfairly targeted due to their familial relationship. “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.
The President also praised Hunter’s progress in overcoming addiction, noting his “five and a half years sober,” and framed the pardon as a necessary step to halt what he described as relentless personal attacks.
Goldberg, a staunch Biden supporter, clashed with Griffin, the show’s conservative voice, over the optics and implications of the pardon. The exchange began when Griffin questioned Biden’s initial denials of plans to pardon his son, calling it a “lie.”
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.
Watch the clip below:
THE VIEW SAYS ‘DON’T CALL JOE BIDEN A LIAR.’pic.twitter.com/ijtrf9VxSJ
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) December 2, 2024
The tense exchange highlighted the growing divide among Americans over Biden’s handling of the situation, with Griffin emphasizing concerns over transparency and fairness.
Critics argue that the pardon undermines the justice system by appearing to grant preferential treatment to those in power. They also point to Biden’s previous statements indicating he would not pardon his son, framing the reversal as a credibility issue.
Supporters, however, see the pardon as a father’s defense of his son against politically motivated attacks. They echo Biden’s assertion that Hunter’s prosecution was a result of partisan targeting, rather than legitimate legal concerns.
Goldberg’s defense of the President extended beyond the pardon itself. She argued that comparisons to other political scandals were unfair, noting that Hunter’s struggles with addiction set his situation apart. “For many, many reasons, this is very different than any other situation that we have ever dealt with,” she said.
Her passionate remarks drew mixed reactions on social media. Some viewers applauded her loyalty to Biden and her call for empathy, while others criticized her for allegedly dismissing concerns about accountability and double standards.
In his Sunday statement, President Biden framed the pardon as an act of compassion, stating: “In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me – and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.”
While Biden’s supporters see this as a moment of personal resolve and family solidarity, detractors argue it sets a dangerous precedent for future administrations.
The Hunter Biden pardon has reignited debates over justice system impartiality, the ethics of presidential pardons, and the influence of political connections. As the public continues to dissect Biden’s decision, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact his administration and its standing with voters.
Meanwhile, the exchange on The View underscores the growing polarization of public discourse around the Biden presidency. Whether Goldberg’s defense will resonate with viewers—or further fuel criticism—will likely depend on individual perspectives on justice, fairness, and political loyalty.
For now, one thing is clear: the Hunter Biden saga is far from over.
Of course the booty breeze Whoopi is going to defend a National Criminal.
Communist stick with Communist.
I knew he was lying!! He has been a liar since he got in to office! He covered all of the bidens with that pardon!!
The raving lunatic hypocrite liar has now ranted! Get lost you wicked witch!
It has a heart full of poison!
The “Pardon” is just one more step meant to cover up all the crimes the Bidens have been involved in. Millions of dollars paid to the Bidens in exchange for WHAT?? How do you keep secrets? You keep the subject, that could reveal a lot of secrets, HAPPY !!
Look at that decrepit evil Satan worshiping witch!
Your accountability is coming swiftly; just like Hunter’s will and his Joker daddy’s is; Lying Scranton Joe!
Biden’s pardon doesn’t and can’t cover crimes Hunter and his father committed in Ukraine.
True!
ya’ll do know, this witch was once a crack whore, right?
you can t defend hunter pardon .it should not have been done.
There is a law against nepotism in the U.S. code.
By implication, nepotism in employment would also apply to pardons, since they are something of value.
Is it a violation of the law of nepotism law when pardoning a family member, especially for serious crimes? Also, applying a blanket pardon for everything that occurred during a period of time, rather than for specific infractions may not holdup as a reasonable pardon power.
Likely these issues are going to come up in court.
I agree, this is on very shaky ground and perhaps a pardon for one error has merit in a genuine justice system for a person who otherwise has had an impeccable upstanding history and may have erred in that one instance, but to say a known thief, liar, swindling, drug addict, unconscionable low life gets a “Free Pass” for all their crimes and sins (which Hunter already got for many years) is “abuse of power” and nowhere near being anything slightly resembling justice in a “Constitutional Republic” but is more akin to what one would expect in “a freaking evil dictatorship or in the Mafia!~”