Recent survey results from a CNN poll suggest that a significant number of Americans believe that President Joe Biden had a role in his son Hunter Biden’s business activities during his time as Vice President. According to the poll, 61% of the 1,500 participants believe Biden was involved in his son’s business dealings between the years 2008 and 2016, compared to 38% who did not share this belief about the Bidens.
Congressional Inquiry into the Bidens
This public sentiment emerges amid ongoing investigations by House Republicans, who regained control of the lower chamber of Congress earlier this year. The inquiry has unveiled instances where Hunter Biden allegedly leveraged his father’s influence in business discussions. In one example, Hunter Biden reportedly warned a Chinese business associate about invoking his father’s disapproval as a tactic to encourage compliance. Additionally, Devon Archer, a longtime friend and business partner of Hunter Biden, testified that the younger Biden had put his father on speakerphone during business meetings approximately 20 times.
Archer described the impact of these phone calls in a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, stating, “Hearing the Vice President’s voice during a meeting with a foreign business associate can be quite impactful. Whether these calls were orchestrated or not, they definitely had a noticeable effect.”
Partisanship and Public Opinion
David Chalian, speaking on CNN This Morning, conceded that although partisanship is a likely driver of these poll results, a “clear majority” of the American population believes that Biden was involved in his son’s business dealings. Chalian noted that “nearly two-thirds of independents” share this belief and that 55% of respondents think Joe Biden’s handling of the investigation into his son has been “inappropriate.”
“Public opinion appears divided along partisan lines, but there’s an increasing belief among independents that President Biden had some involvement in his son’s business activities,” Chalian added.
Poppy Harlow, another CNN host, summed up the sentiments by stating, “Something doesn’t smell right.”
Lingering Questions
As Republicans in Congress continue to probe the Bidens’ activities, the issue has evidently captured the attention of Americans across political affiliations. While Democrats generally remain skeptical of these allegations, Republicans and a growing number of independents are becoming increasingly convinced of the President’s involvement in his son’s business affairs.
The revelations from this poll could potentially have broader implications for the Biden administration, especially as the inquiry continues to unfold. The public’s trust in the President could be further influenced by upcoming findings, underlining the necessity for a transparent investigation to fully address these concerns.
