President Joe Biden publicly acknowledged his seventh grandchild, a 4-year-old girl named Navy, for the first time on Friday. Navy is the daughter of his son Hunter Biden and Arkansas woman Lunden Roberts, whom Hunter had an encounter with in 2018 while battling addiction issues.
Biden released a statement addressing the situation, stating that his son and Navy’s mother are working together to foster a healthy relationship that is in the best interest of their daughter. He emphasized that this is a family matter, not a political one, and that he and his wife Jill only want what is best for all of their grandchildren, including Navy.
The paternity of Hunter Biden was established through DNA testing after Roberts sued for child support. Recently, the two parties resolved outstanding child support issues. In Hunter’s 2021 memoir, he admitted that he had no recollection of the encounter with Roberts due to his addiction struggles but took responsibility for his actions.
The president’s acknowledgment of Navy comes after facing criticism for not publicly recognizing her as his granddaughter. It is reported that he followed his son’s lead while the legal proceedings were ongoing.
Hunter Biden has four other children, including a son named Beau, who was born to his wife Melissa Cohen in 2020. Beau was named after Joe Biden’s late son, who passed away from cancer in 2015. Biden’s grandchildren have played a significant role in his presidency, often accompanying him and the first lady on trips and visiting the White House regularly. The president has credited his grandchildren with inspiring him to challenge former President Donald Trump for the White House in 2020.
The news of Joe Biden’s acknowledgement of Navy was first reported by People Magazine.