President Joe Biden immediately hugged his son Hunter as he exited Marine One Tuesday afternoon, hours after his son’s federal gun conviction.
After a Delaware jury found Hunter guilty on all three charges, the White House announced that the president’s schedule had changed: he would travel to Wilmington.
When Biden landed at the Delaware Air National Guard, waiting for him on the tarmac were Hunter, his wife Melissa Cohen, who was by his side the entire time, and four-year-old baby Beau.
The president grabbed his son as reporters rushed to capture the moment, emotionally hugging him and then pulling him back, his arm hovering over Hunter’s for about five seconds.
Biden also hugged Melissa and then walked over to his young grandson, bending down to hug him and then kissing the preschooler’s blonde head.
President Joe Biden hugs his son Hunter Biden on the tarmac at the Delaware Air National Guard as he adjusts his schedule to fly to Wilmington after Hunter’s guilty verdict.
President Joe Biden kisses his grandson, baby Beau, son of Hunter Biden (right) and his wife Melissa Cohen (left)
Neither the president nor the first son had anything to say to the press.
Biden climbed into his signature SUV, while Hunter, Melissa and Beau crossed the tarmac to another vehicle on base.
The president returned to Wilmington immediately after delivering a speech in which he touted his own gun safety record.
Appearing before Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund’s ‘Gun Sense University’, the president talked about what he was doing to decrease gun violence, but did not mention his son Hunter’s conviction on federal gun charges.
He referenced Hunter’s late brother and sister, and his late first wife, Neilia, while talking about how he knew what the victims’ families were going through because he experienced his own losses.
“I know it’s hard because I also got those phone calls saying I lost a son, a daughter, a wife; I know what it’s like,” the president said.
Biden issued a statement through the White House counsel’s office once the verdict was announced applauding Hunter for surviving drug addiction.
President Joe Biden is holding his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted of federal drug charges in Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday.
President Joe Biden (center) stayed courtside to speak with Melissa Cohen (left), baby Beau (center) and Hunter Biden (right) after Hunter’s sentencing.
Hunter Biden (center) and Melissa Cohen (right) greet a White House aide as they walked to separate vehicles with their son Beau (left).
“As I said last week, I am the president, but I am also a dad,” the president reiterated. “Jill and I love our son and are very proud of the man he is today.”
“Many families whose loved ones have struggled with addiction understand the feeling of pride in seeing someone you love come out on the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery,” Biden continued.
“As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal,” the president added.
The president never attended the seven-day trial in person, although first lady Jill Biden did, flying back and forth from France to be in the courtroom.
Other members of the Biden family present included the president’s brother and sister, his first daughter Ashley Biden, Naomi Biden, who testified, and her husband Peter Neal.
Biden previously told ABC’s David Muir that he would not pardon Hunter.
Hunter plans to appeal the conviction, although that would occur after sentencing, with a date generally set around 120 days after trial, meaning the first child would return to court just weeks before the November election.
The younger Biden has also been charged with tax evasion in California and could face trial again in September.