President Joe Biden on Friday publicly acknowledged his seventh grandchild for the first time, while adding that his granddaughter Navy is “not a political issue.”
In a statement first reported by People that was obtained by NBC News, Biden said that he and first lady Jill Biden wanted the best for all of their grandchildren, “including Navy.”
“Our son Hunter and Navy’s mother, Lunden, are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter, preserving her privacy as much as possible going forward,” the president said. “This is not a political issue, it’s a family matter. Jill and I only want what is best for all of our grandchildren, including Navy.”
Hunter Biden and Lunden Roberts last month settled a paternity case over their daughter Navy in an Arkansas court after Hunter previously denied that he was the father.
Friday’s statement comes as Republican presidential hopefuls have increasingly taken jabs at the president for not counting Navy among his grandchildren in public remarks.
“Why don’t you spend some time with your granddaughter in Arkansas, or at least recognize her existence before you start worrying about our kids?” said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during remarks on parental rights to voters in Tennessee this month.
“Would be nice if @JoeBiden finally steps up and acknowledges his own granddaughter,” tweeted biotech multimillionaire Vivek Ramaswamy in early July.
In April, on Take Your Child to Work Day, Biden said: “I have six grandchildren. And I’m crazy about them. And I speak to them every single day. Not a joke. Matter of fact, I just got finished going through the calls.”
A source familiar with the situation told NBC News on Friday that the Bidens “are — and have been — giving Hunter and Lunden the space and time to figure things out.”
“You have to remember there were some fairly contentious legal proceedings between Navy’s parents happening until just a few weeks ago,” the source said. “As grandparents, the Bidens are following Hunter’s lead.”
As part of the settlement last month, Hunter Biden agreed to pay an undisclosed amount in child support until Navy turns 18, will give her an undisclosed number of his paintings, and will discuss providing her a college fund. Roberts withdrew a counterclaim to change Navy’s last name to Biden, according to the agreement.
Hunter Biden has four other children: three daughters with his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle, and a son with wife Melissa Cohen.
The president’s two other grandchildren are the children of his late son Beau and wife Hallie.
