WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden abruptly changed his schedule Tuesday afternoon to head home to Wilmington, Delaware, hours after his son, Hunter Biden, was found guilty on gun charges.
Joe Biden was supposed to be in Washington DC all day, but hours after a federal jury in Wilmington found guilty on all three counts, the White House announced he would leave the Washington Hilton, where he made remarks about a gun violence incident. conference, and head straight to Joint Base Andrews. There he boarded Marine 1 for the short flight to Wilmington.
Biden made no mention of his son’s legal troubles at all in his 20-minute speech to the hundreds in attendance at the “Gun Sense University” conference sponsored by Everytown for Gun Safety.
He spoke about the actions he has taken to reduce gun violence and thanked activists for their work. ‘We’re going to get there. “I have no illusions about how difficult it can be, but I also have illusions about the people in this room,” he said. “You change the attitude of the audience. I really mean that.”
The president did not speak about the verdict on Tuesday, although he did release a statement shortly after it was announced in court.
“Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today,” Biden wrote, referring to first lady Jill Biden, who was regularly in the courtroom during the trial. “So many families who have had loved ones who have battled addiction understand the feeling of pride in seeing someone you love emerge on the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery. As I said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and continue to respect the legal process as Hunter considers an appeal. Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.”
Biden plans to leave for the G7 conference of the world’s largest democratic economies in Italy on Wednesday morning.
