Jill Biden reflects on Hunter's addiction: 'I'm sorry I didn't talk about it'

Jill Biden says she regrets not speaking more openly about her son Hunter's drug addiction during her time in the White House, explaining that visibility around substance abuse and recovery can offer hope to others facing the same struggle.

In an interview with Whoopi Goldberg at the 92nd Street Y in New York on Tuesday to promote her White House memoir "View from the East Wing," the former first lady acknowledged the family was "partly in denial" about Hunter's addiction. "It's hard for me to say this, but Hunter was a drug addict," she said on stage.

Hunter's spiral into addiction began after his older brother Beau died of brain cancer in 2015. He has now been sober for several years. Jill Biden said she's proud of his recovery and his work helping other people in addiction recovery. "I'm sorry that I didn't talk about it a little bit more," she said. "I hope that by talking about it more as I go forward I hope that it offers other people hope. It is such a tough, tough thing to deal with."

Hunter Biden faced federal charges for lying about his drug use on forms used to purchase a gun. He was convicted after trial and faced prison time, but received a pardon from his father just before leaving office — after repeatedly insisting he wouldn't use presidential powers to spare his son.

Jill Biden also reflected on her initial anger toward Democrats who pressured her husband to end his reelection bid after his poor debate performance against Donald Trump in 2024. But she said that anger has faded since former President Joe Biden was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer a year ago. "What's the purpose of anger now?" she said. "Joe's cancer diagnosis really puts life into perspective and you really do appreciate each and every day."

Former President Biden, 83, attended the event and received standing ovations from the packed house.