Fact Check: "Hunter DID make millions from Even after Biden China & Ukraine denied it in the debate and this directly goes against what Joe Biden said in the debate in 2020 with Donald Trump"
What We Know
During the 2020 presidential debates, President Donald Trump accused Hunter Biden of making millions from foreign entities, specifically mentioning China and Ukraine. Trump claimed that Hunter had received substantial payments from these countries, which he argued contradicted Joe Biden's assertions that his son had done nothing wrong (source-1).
- Hunter Biden's Earnings: Hunter Biden has indeed been reported to have received significant sums of money from foreign sources, including a notable claim of $3.5 million from Elena Baturina, the former mayor of Moscow's wife, and millions from his dealings in China (source-1, source-2).
- Joe Biden's Defense: During the debate, Joe Biden stated that his son did nothing wrong and that Trump's claims were "thoroughly discredited" (source-1). Biden's defense was based on the assertion that Hunter's business dealings did not influence U.S. policy while he was vice president, a claim supported by various investigations (source-1).
- Investigations and Reports: Reports by Republican senators suggested that Hunter Biden's role at Burisma and his business dealings in China raised ethical questions, but they did not conclusively prove that Joe Biden altered U.S. policy for his son's benefit (source-1, source-3).
Analysis
The claim that Hunter Biden made millions from foreign entities is substantiated by various reports, including the Johnson/Grassley report, which highlighted Hunter's financial dealings. However, the context in which these earnings were discussed during the debates is crucial. Trump’s assertions were often framed in a way that implied wrongdoing on Joe Biden's part, which Biden vehemently denied (source-1, source-2).
The credibility of the sources discussing these allegations varies. The Johnson/Grassley report, while highlighting potential conflicts of interest, did not provide evidence of illegal activity or direct influence on U.S. policy by Joe Biden (source-1). Furthermore, independent analyses have pointed out that while Hunter Biden's business dealings raise ethical questions, they do not necessarily indicate corruption or wrongdoing by Joe Biden (source-2).
Conclusion
The claim that "Hunter DID make millions" is Partially True. While it is accurate that Hunter Biden received substantial payments from foreign entities, the implications drawn from these earnings regarding Joe Biden's integrity and actions as vice president are not conclusively supported by evidence. Joe Biden's defense during the debate emphasized that his son's business dealings did not influence U.S. policy, a claim that has not been disproven despite the allegations made by Trump.
Sources
- Donald Trump’s accusations about Hunter Biden - Fact Check
- Fact-checking claims about Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, and China
- Presidential debate: Trump, not Biden, had accepted money ...
- Jake Tapper admits ‘Trump was right,’ ‘Biden was wrong’ about ...
- Trump’s Claims About Hunter Biden in China - FactCheck.org
- Fact check: Claims that Hunter Biden received $3.5M from ...
- Fact check: Did Biden get $3.5 million from Russia? | CNN
