In a display of familial acknowledgment, President Joe Biden has publicly recognized his seventh grandchild for the very first time. The young girl, named Navy, is the offspring of Mr. Biden's son, Hunter, who recently resolved a legal dispute concerning child support.
On Friday, President Biden expressed, "Jill and I hold the well-being of all our grandchildren, including Navy, as our utmost priority." The president's decision to finally recognize her garnered criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, given his previous omission.
Addressing the child publicly for the first time in a statement to People magazine, Mr. Biden asserted that this matter is beyond politics; it is a family affair. He emphasized that his son is working collaboratively with Navy's mother, Lunden Roberts, to cultivate a positive relationship that best serves their daughter, safeguarding her privacy moving forward.
The paternity of Navy was confirmed through DNA testing after Ms. Roberts filed a lawsuit seeking child support. Hunter Biden recounted his encounter with Ms. Roberts in his 2021 memoir, revealing it occurred during a period of intense struggle with alcohol and drugs. "I had no recollection of our encounter," he penned. "Such was my profound disconnection from the world. I was a mess, but a mess I have taken accountability for."
Criticism mounted against President Biden from Republicans, with some alleging that his failure to acknowledge Navy clashed with his public persona as a devoted family man. House Republican Elise Stefanik accused Mr. Biden of exhibiting "cold, heartless, selfish, and cowardly" conduct following the legal resolution in June. "Every American knows that Joe Biden should have done the right thing years ago and acknowledged all of his grandchildren," she expressed to the Daily Mail.
In April, Mr. Biden professed his affection for his existing six grandchildren, whom he communicated with daily. Hunter Biden has four other children, including a son named Beau in honor of the president's late son who passed away in 2015.
