Hunter Biden is publicly entertaining the possibility of following his father into the White House, saying during a new radio interview that he “may have to” run for president in 2028.
The 56-year-old former first son made the remark while speaking with billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis for his WABC “Cats Roundtable” program, which is scheduled to air Sunday.
“If I get your endorsement, I may have to,” Biden told Catsimatidis when the conversation turned toward a potential presidential campaign.
Biden then pointed to addiction as one of the issues he cares most deeply about, saying tens of millions of Americans continue to struggle with substance abuse.
The comment stopped well short of an official campaign announcement, but it represents one of Biden’s clearest public acknowledgments yet that he has considered a future in electoral politics.
Biden also outlined what he believes should be a fundamental qualification for the presidency, focusing on the Constitution and the rule of law.
“Here is my qualification for becoming president,” Biden said, before arguing that the next president should commit to “adhering to the rule of law.”
Any Hunter Biden presidential campaign would immediately draw intense scrutiny because of his lengthy history of addiction, controversial foreign business relationships and criminal cases.
Biden has openly discussed his years-long addiction to crack cocaine and other substances, experiences that later became central evidence in his federal firearms prosecution.
A federal jury convicted him in 2024 on three felony gun charges stemming from his purchase of a firearm while using illegal drugs. His own memoir and other evidence detailing his drug use were introduced during the case. His legal troubles were later addressed in special counsel David Weiss’ final report.
Biden also pleaded guilty to federal tax charges in a separate case before his father, former President Joe Biden, issued him a sweeping pardon shortly before leaving office.
The pardon became politically explosive because Joe Biden had repeatedly said beforehand that he would not pardon his son. The decision generated a fierce debate over the justice system and the president’s use of clemency powers.
Hunter Biden’s overseas business dealings would almost certainly become another major campaign issue if he entered the 2028 race.
His work for Ukrainian energy company Burisma became a recurring political controversy during his father’s presidency. Prosecutors previously detailed millions of dollars Hunter Biden received through foreign business relationships, while Republicans spent years investigating whether his family name helped facilitate those arrangements.
The former first son has also acknowledged that money earned during that period helped finance his drug addiction.
His potential presidential ambitions come amid a noticeable reemergence into public life in 2026.
Biden has become increasingly active online and has appeared on podcasts and interviews discussing his addiction, his family, President Donald Trump and the future of the Democratic Party.
His social media presence has even generated occasional speculation about whether his increasingly confrontational political persona could translate into an actual campaign, per the New York Post.
Earlier this summer, Biden joked about joining California Gov. Gavin Newsom on a 2028 presidential ticket, though at the time he suggested he would take the vice presidential position rather than run at the top of the ticket.
The latest interview goes considerably further by placing Biden himself in the presidential conversation.
Still, Biden made clear that he was not formally committing to a campaign.
He praised the Democratic Party’s potential 2028 field, describing it as an “incredible bench,” according to the New York Post.
Biden specifically singled out Newsom for praise.
“I love Gavin Newsom, personally,” he said.
Newsom is widely viewed as a potential contender for the Democratic nomination, while former Vice President Kamala Harris and several Democratic governors and senators have also been discussed as possible candidates.
Just days earlier, Hunter Biden also spoke favorably about Harris while criticizing some of the political advice she has received. He said he would “love” to see Harris become president and argued that she still has a future in national politics.
Whether Biden’s latest comments were primarily playful or represent the beginning of a serious political effort remains unclear.
