Hunter Biden says he ‘may have to’ run for president in 2028 after previously ruling it out

WASHINGTON, DC: Former President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, on Saturday, September 5, opened the door to a potential 2028 presidential campaign, saying he “may have to” run during an upcoming radio interview.

The comments marked a change from his position just weeks ago, when he said he had not considered running and joked that an announcement should prompt people to check whether he had relapsed. Hunter ultimately stopped short of announcing a campaign and acknowledged that Democrats have “an incredible bench.”

Hunter Biden says he could consider 2028 presidential bid

During an interview with billionaire supermarket executive John Catsimatidis for his WABC Cats Roundtable radio show, Hunter Biden said he could consider running for president if he received Catsimatidis’ endorsement.

“If I get your (Catsimatidis’) endorsement, I may have to (run for president). The things I care most about is the 50 million Americans that are still suffering with their addictions,” Hunter said. Hunter identified adherence to the rule of law as his central qualification for the presidency, pointing to the Constitution and the responsibilities of the office.

“Here is my qualification for becoming president, if you believe in the Constitution of the United States of America that you swear to uphold and protect. I want the next president to commit to one thing: to adhering to the rule of law,” he said.

Hunter's remarks came as Democrats have begun considering potential contenders for the 2028 presidential race. Hunter, however, did not commit to seeking the nomination and said the party has several potential candidates. “I love Gavin Newsom, personally,” he said.

Hunter also continued to emphasize addiction as an issue he would focus on, drawing on his own history of substance use and recovery. He has previously said he has been sober since June 1, 2019.

Hunter Biden previously ruled out a presidential campaign

Hunter’s recent remarks were a notable shift from his previous comments made during an August 21 appearance on 'Real Time with Bill Maher'. When asked directly whether he was running for president, Biden rejected the idea and said he had not considered a campaign.

“No, I haven't. Here's my thing, if I announce for president, then somebody should check and see if I relapsed,” Biden said. At the time, Biden said he had been sober for seven years and explained that his public discussion of addiction.

“My own reason for being out there as much as I am, at least from my perspective, (the media) built this platform to beat the hell out of me for about a seven-year period of time. And when the crowd went home, the platform was still there,” he said.

“There’s 50 million Americans that are still sick and suffering every day from addiction and I get to speak to them,” Hunter said. “Even if it’s one person that sends me a message any day, that says, ‘I saw your message, and I didn’t drink today,’ then I’ve done something that I think is incredibly worthy.”