REPORT: Biden Is ‘Consumed’ By Hunter Scandals, Frequently Lashes Out At Top Aides

Top aides to President Joe Biden are admitting that the barrage of negative press about his son Hunter Biden is starting to wear on him, so much so that the elder Biden is lashing out at anyone who suggests he distance himself from his son in the wake of guilty pleas to tax and gun charges.

NBC News, speaking with sources in the White House, said aides are being told one thing by President Biden: “Hands off my family.”

From NBC News:

“It’s consumed him,” a person close to the president said.

For months as Hunter Biden’s legal woes persisted and he prepared to mount a public defense against Republican attacks after several years largely staying silent, Biden’s closest political and legal advisers have had to balance their instincts to protect their boss with his parental desire to protect his son, according to the people familiar with the dynamic. That has resulted in tensions between legal teams for the president and Hunter Biden and very delicate attempts by the president’s advisers to explain to him how his son’s elevated public profile may not be in his best interest when it comes to political goals — specifically winning re-election in what could be a rematch of the 2020 race against Donald Trump, these people said.

When aides attempt to broach the politically sensitive subject, the president’s responses oscillate between defensive and outright anger to any suggestion he should keep Hunter Biden at arm’s length. Shortly after entering his guilty verdict, Hunter Biden was invited to join his father at a state dinner.

Reporters who have asked about President Biden’s involvement with or knowledge of Hunter Biden’s business deals which led to the convictions have been met with curt responses and even yelling. Earlier this week Biden shouted back “No!” at a reporter who asked if he was part of a “text message shake down” between his son and Chinese business officials.

“Such a dumb question,” President Biden responded to another who asked if he was the “big guy” referenced in messages by his son. When another asked about his ties to China, where bank records show his family earned millions of dollars lobbying for companies, Biden cried, “Give me a break, man!”

If President Biden chooses to keep his embattled son close, he may pay for it politically. Recent head-to-head polls have shown him trailing former President Donald Trump, who is so popular in the GOP primary that he may skip the party’s first debate.