After nearly five years of Republicans targeting Hunter Biden, the moment had finally arrived. The president’s son was now a convicted felon, guilty on three felony gun charges. However, the reaction from Donald J. Trump and other Republicans was not what many expected. The guilty verdict seemed to deflate their enthusiasm, with some calling the trial “dumb” and “fake.”
Many Trump allies were secretly hoping for an acquittal, believing it would further their narrative of a rigged justice system favoring the Bidens over the Trumps. The guilty verdict presented a challenge to this narrative.
There was also disappointment in the missed fundraising opportunity an acquittal would have provided for the Trump campaign. Discussions had been held on the potential financial gains of an acquittal, with estimates of raising tens of millions of dollars based on using it as evidence of a rigged justice system. Prominent Republicans downplayed the gun charges against Hunter Biden, redirecting attention to alleged crimes committed by President Biden.
Despite the conviction, some Republicans continued to push their narrative of corruption within the Biden family, with the Trump campaign’s national press secretary condemning the trial as a distraction from the alleged crimes of the “Biden Crime Family.”
Although President Biden has not been charged with crimes, House Republican leadership abandoned impeachment efforts against Mr. Biden due to lack of sufficient evidence. Hunter Biden is set to face another trial in September on charges related to tax evasion.
Interestingly, Mr. Trump, who previously attacked Hunter Biden aggressively, has shifted his focus away from personal attacks, recognizing the potential political backlash. He now emphasizes empathy towards addiction issues and his own family’s struggles, distancing himself from past attacks on Hunter Biden.
The muted response from the Trump camp following the guilty verdict reflects a change in tactics, with Mr. Trump now choosing to focus on broader accusations of corruption within the Biden family rather than targeting Hunter specifically.
While some Republicans saw the conviction as an opportunity to highlight the justice system’s fairness, others viewed it as a missed chance to expose corruption. The shift in focus from Hunter Biden to broader accusations of corruption within the Biden family indicates a strategic change in messaging.
Despite differing opinions within the GOP, the overall response to the guilty verdict suggested a recognition that the Hunter Biden case no longer served as a viable political tool against President Biden.
Reporting was contributed by Shane Goldmacher, Michael C. Bender, Luke Broadwater, Catie Edmondson, Annie Karni and Robert Jimison.
