Fact Check: Hunter Biden Made Millions from China and Ukraine
What We Know
During the 2020 presidential debates, Joe Biden claimed that his son, Hunter Biden, had not made any money from business dealings in China, stating, "My son has not made money in terms of this thing about, what are you talking about, China" (source-2). However, Hunter Biden has reported significant income from foreign business dealings. Specifically, he reported nearly $2.4 million in income in 2017 and $2.2 million in 2018, with a substantial portion of this income derived from Chinese and Ukrainian interests (source-2; source-6).
Furthermore, the House Oversight Committee has detailed that Hunter Biden and other family members received over $1.3 million in payments from a Chinese company through a third party (source-1). This contradicts Joe Biden's assertions during the debates that his family had not received money from foreign sources.
Analysis
The evidence indicates that Hunter Biden did indeed earn substantial sums from foreign business dealings, particularly in China and Ukraine. His reported income figures for 2017 and 2018 are corroborated by multiple sources, including financial records and testimony from Hunter himself (source-2; source-6).
The reliability of the sources reporting these figures is generally high, with reputable news organizations and official congressional reports providing the information. However, it is important to note that the context of Biden's statements during the debates may have been interpreted narrowly, as he was responding to questions about his son's business dealings during his vice presidency, which may not have included income earned after Biden left office (source-2).
Despite this potential nuance, the overall evidence supports the claim that Hunter Biden made millions from foreign interests, contradicting Joe Biden's statements during the debates.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that Hunter Biden made millions from China and Ukraine is substantiated by financial records and testimony. Joe Biden's assertions during the debates that his son had not made money from these dealings are contradicted by evidence showing significant income from foreign business activities. Therefore, the claim is accurate.
Sources
- Joe Biden Lied At Least 16 Times About His Family's ...
- Biden said his son earned no money from China. ...
- Hunter Biden: What was he doing in China and Ukraine?
- Biden–Ukraine conspiracy theory
- Questions and Answers About the Bidens and a Deal in ...
- Analysis of Hunter Biden's hard drive shows he and his firm ...
- Trump, not Biden, had accepted money from foreign interests
- Biden Defends His Son Hunter's Business Dealings in ...