Joe Biden publicly announces his seventh grandchild

The seventh grandchild of US President Joe Biden was first formally announced in public on Friday. Hunter Biden, the son of Mr. Biden, and Lunden Roberts, an Arkansas woman, are the parents of Navy Joan Roberts, a 4-year-old, according to the BBC.

Mr. Biden made a statement in which he and first wife Jill Biden expressed their desire for all of their grandchildren, “including Navy,” to have the finest possible lives.

“Our son Hunter and Navy’s mother, Lunden, are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter, preserving her privacy as much as possible going forward,” Biden told People magazine. 

“This is not a political issue, it’s a family matter. Jill and I only want what is best for all of our grandchildren, including Navy,” he further added. 

According to the BBC, DNA testing was used to prove Hunter Biden’s paternity when Ms. Roberts filed a child support lawsuit. Last month, the two came to an agreement over the unpaid child support.

Hunter Biden also discussed his meeting with Ms. Roberts in his memoir from 2021, claiming that it took place when he was heavily addicted to drugs and alcohol. “I had no recollection of our encounter,” he penned down. “That’s how little connection I had with anyone. I was a mess, but a mess I’ve taken responsibility for,” he further added. 

Notably, Mr Biden’s public acknowledgement of his 7th grandchild comes after he was criticised by both Republicans and Democrats over his previous decision not to recognise her. House Republican Elise Stefanik made accusation against Mr Biden because of “cold, heartless, selfish and cowardly” behaviour. “Every American knows that Joe Biden should have done the right thing years ago and acknowledged all of his grandchildren,” she added.