Hunter Biden launched a scathing attack on prominent Democrats, political consultants, and media figures in a newly released interview posted Monday on YouTube.
Speaking with Andrew Callaghan on the web series Channel 5, the son of former President Joe Biden dismissed George Clooney, CNN’s Jake Tapper, the Pod Save America hosts, and others who had publicly urged his father to step aside during the 2024 campaign.
“George Clooney isn’t an actor—he’s a brand,” Hunter said bluntly. “James Carville hasn’t won a race in 40 years. David Axelrod had one win, and it was Obama—and that was because of Obama.”
He also lashed out at the Pod Save America team, saying: “They were junior speechwriters on Obama’s Senate staff. Now they’re millionaires riding that relationship. And they’re passing judgment on a man who got elected to the Senate seven times, passed more legislation than any president in history, and earned more votes than anyone ever?”
Why It Matters
Hunter’s tirade was aimed at several high-profile Democrats and pundits who, during the 2024 election cycle, publicly questioned Joe Biden’s fitness for a second term. Clooney, a longtime Democratic supporter, wrote an op-ed in The New York Times titled I Love Joe Biden. But We Need a New Nominee, sparking backlash and debate within the party.
Carville and Axelrod also wrote or spoke publicly urging Biden to withdraw. Axelrod argued in a CNN piece that Biden should “step aside” for the good of the country, while Carville suggested Democrats urgently needed a backup plan.
More Quotes from the Interview
Hunter didn’t hold back when talking about Jake Tapper either: “What influence does Jake Tapper have? He’s got the smallest audience on cable news.”
And of political consultant Anita Dunn, he said, “She’s made $40 or $50 million off the Democratic Party and wants to second-guess my dad?”
Hunter accused all of them of trying to undercut the legacy and accomplishments of his father: “What right do you have to step on a man who’s given 52 years of his f****** life to this country?”
Fallout and Reactions
Jon Lovett, co-host of Pod Save America, defended their coverage of Biden’s campaign during a May appearance on The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart, saying, “We were getting s*** about raising concerns over Biden’s age long before he dropped out.”
On a recent episode of Pod Save America, Jon Favreau responded directly to Hunter’s remarks: “It’s three hours of Hunter playing the victim. He rages at us, Axelrod, Clooney—but the issue was the voters.”
Favreau also clarified that he was the only one on the podcast team who actually served as chief speechwriter in Obama’s Senate office.
Tapper, meanwhile, co-authored a book in 2024 alleging efforts to hide then-President Biden’s cognitive decline ahead of the election.
Background
Hunter Biden has faced legal troubles of his own. In 2024, he was convicted on federal gun charges and later pleaded guilty in a federal tax case. That December, President Biden issued a full and unconditional pardon for his son.
Despite his legal issues, Hunter has remained vocal in defending his father and pushing back against Democratic figures he views as disloyal.
Clooney’s Original Op-Ed
In his July 2024 op-ed, Clooney wrote, “I love Joe Biden… but the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time.” The piece added fuel to a growing chorus of Democrats worried about Biden’s age and electability—concerns that ultimately led to his decision not to seek re-election.
As the party looks to 2028, Hunter Biden’s explosive remarks have added new drama to the internal Democratic divide—one that continues to simmer long after the campaign trail cooled.
