It’s rare to see someone like Chuck Todd, a long-time Biden cheerleader, actually admit that Joe Biden’s decision to run for president in 2019 was a mistake. But here we are, and it’s quite the sight.
For years, Todd has been the Biden family’s go-to apologist, brushing off scandals and glossing over glaring issues like Hunter Biden’s legal troubles and Joe Biden’s declining health. Now, in the wake of President Biden’s “full and unconditional” pardon of his son, convicted felon Hunter Biden, even Todd can’t hide his dismay.
Let’s set the stage. Hunter Biden, plagued by years of scandal, influence-peddling, and addiction, has been at the center of controversy since before his father stepped into the Oval Office. With Biden’s last-minute pardon, it seems the family’s signature move—invoking “Democrat Privilege”—is in full force. The mainstream media, of course, has jumped to defend the president, spinning this as some act of compassion rather than a blatant abuse of power. Yet even stalwart defenders like Todd are struggling to justify it.
In a striking moment of candor, Todd called the Bidens “selfish” for running in 2019 despite their family chaos. He pointed out that Joe and Jill Biden’s decision not only put their party in turmoil but also left America in the precarious position it’s in now, with Donald Trump likely heading back to the White House.
Todd, known for his emotional defenses of Biden in the past, didn’t pull punches. He described Joe Biden as “emotionally incapable” of holding the presidency, citing his unresolved grief over Beau Biden’s death and his inability to properly handle Hunter’s behavior.
Todd’s criticisms extended to the broader consequences of Biden’s presidency. By running, Joe Biden exposed the Democratic Party’s internal fractures, worsened by Hunter’s scandals and Joe’s diminishing physical and mental acuity. The cracks Todd helped paper over for years are now glaringly obvious, with the Democrats floundering ahead of 2024.
I talk to @chucktodd every Monday for my newsletter.
It’s always a good conversation.
But, I thought Chuck NAILED it today on why the Hunter Biden trial really mattered when thinking about the Biden presidency and the pardon.
Watch the whole thing at the link in my bio. pic.twitter.com/FzBUBKM1cI
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) December 3, 2024
This turnabout is a classic case of too little, too late. Todd and his media colleagues spent years shielding Biden from scrutiny, dismissing legitimate concerns about his capacity to govern. Now, with Hunter’s pardon shining a spotlight on Biden’s legacy of personal and political mismanagement, Todd’s sudden epiphany rings hollow.
STRAIGHT UP ASS WHOOPIN
Dems on CNN attempted to defend Hunter Biden’s pardon by spewing one lame excuse after another
👉 Scott Jennings SHRED them all
😲#Trump2024 #MAGA JUST ANNOUNCED NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW #Fakenews The View The Five Chuck Toddpic.twitter.com/myGKjWeNH7
— Boca Vista (@bocavista2016) December 3, 2024
Still, Todd’s critique gets at a core truth: the Biden presidency was born of hubris, not readiness. Joe and Jill Biden prioritized their political ambitions over the stability of their family, their party, and the nation. As pundits begin dissecting Biden’s legacy, they’d do well to remember that Todd and his ilk enabled this chaos. The Democratic Party and the country are left to deal with the fallout.
🚨 President Joe Biden pardoned his son, convicted by a jury of his peers.
Paulette Harlow, meanwhile, a 76-year-old woman with medical issues is serving a 2-year prison sentence in Alexandria Detention Center for peacefully standing in front of an abortion clinic.
Does that… pic.twitter.com/rj5XGTlwqt
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) December 2, 2024
