"I Am an Addict"… President's Troubled Son Rises as an SNS Star

Hunter Biden, Embroiled in Drug Addiction Controversies
Rises as a Political Influencer Through X

Hunter Biden, the son of former U.S. President Joe Biden and known as a "troubled figure" due to various controversies including illegal firearm possession and drug addiction, has emerged as a social media star. This newfound popularity is attributed to his candid confessions about his past and his bold criticism of both major U.S. political parties.

Hunter began his social media activity on May 19, 2026 (local time). On his official X account, he posted, "I am Hunter Biden. You have never heard my story directly." In fact, Hunter had not appeared in public during his father's entire presidential term.

Hunter Biden, son of former U.S. President Joe Biden, working on a personal project. Screenshot from X.

He revealed that he has been struggling to overcome alcohol and drug addiction for the past seven years, stating, "When I was addicted, I contemplated taking my own life almost every day." However, when asked whether the bag of cocaine found at the White House in 2023 belonged to him, he responded with self-deprecating humor, "Absolutely not. If it were mine, I would never forget my own drugs."

Hunter's rapid rise as a political influencer is rooted in his outspoken commentary that spares neither the left nor the right. On May 21, 2026, he appeared on conservative political commentator Candace Owens' podcast, where he openly admitted, "You call me an addict, and I am an addict."

However, he strongly criticized Stephen Miller, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff who spearheaded anti-immigration policies in the Trump Administration, calling him "a petty and ugly son of a bitch." He also mentioned Jeffrey Epstein, the Wall Street billionaire and sex offender who died by suicide in prison, criticizing the U.S. elite connected to Epstein by stating they are "dividing society."

The New York Times described Hunter’s actions as "counter-cultural," analyzing that his honesty, rather than the refined language of the establishment, has resonated with the American public. As of June 10, 2026, his X follower count was approaching 750,000.

Meanwhile, Hunter was awaiting sentencing in June 2024 after being found guilty of illegal firearm possession and tax evasion, but was dramatically released thanks to a pardon from his father, former President Biden. Although former President Biden had previously stated he would not pardon family members during his term, he reversed his position with just over a month left in office. At the time, Biden explained the reason for the pardon by saying, "There have been relentless attacks and selective prosecutions aimed at bringing Hunter down for the past five and a half years."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.