With his pardon of son Hunter, Joe Biden delivers a heartfelt hypocrisy

The president and supporters argue Hunter Biden would never have been charged were it not for his name – and any father might have done the same. But this exercise of power also looks like a validation of Donald Trump

President Joe Biden greets his son Hunter Biden after addressing the nation from the Oval Office. Picture: AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool

A loving act of mercy by a father who has already known much sorrow? Or a hypocritical political manoeuvre reminiscent of his great foe? Maybe both can be true.

Joe Biden’s announcement on Sunday that he had pardoned his son Hunter, who is facing sentencing in two criminal cases, is likely to have been the product of a Shakespearean struggle between head and heart.