President Biden says home of Hunter Biden under threat by California wildfires
WASHINGTON ― President Joe Biden said Wednesday the Los Angeles home of his son Hunter Biden is in the danger zone of the area's devastating wildfires but may have been spared after initially fearing it was destroyed.
The status of the home, where Hunter Biden lives with his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden, remains unclear, the president said.
Biden called the wildfires caused by strong Santa Ana winds "astounding" after receiving a briefing from local fire department officials at a Santa Monica, California, fire station.
"There's only one piece of good news. My son lives out here. They got a notification yesterday that their home was probably burned to the ground. Today, it appears it may still be standing. They're not sure," Biden said.
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The president pardoned Hunter Biden last month of federal tax evasion and gun felonies in a controversial move before his term ends. Biden told USA TODAY in an exclusive interview this week that Hunter Biden, who has struggled with addiction, has been sober for nearly six years.
On the way to the fire briefing, Biden's motorcade stopped by a Los Angeles hospital where his granddaughter, Naomi Biden, the daughter of Hunter, gave birth to her first child.
“The good news is I’m a great grandfather as of today,” Biden said. “A 10-pound, 4-ounce baby girl," he said, correcting himself. "Baby boy.”
"So, I'm going to remember this day for a lot of wrong reasons," Biden said.
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Biden was in Los Angeles for a previously planned White House event commemorating the creation of two national monuments. The event was canceled because of the wildfires. Biden departed back to Washington on Air Force One after the briefing.
Biden, who was joined by California Gov. Gavin Newsom at the briefing, said he’s directed the Defense Department to rapidly provide additional firefighter personnel and equipment and pointed to 10 Navy helicopters coming to assist from San Diego, among other forms of aid.
“We’re doing anything and everything and as long as it takes to contain these fires and help you reconstruct and make sure you get back to normal,” Biden said. “It’s going to be a hell of a long way. It’s going to take time.”
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Biden says son Hunter's home under threat by California wildfires