The New York Times reported on Monday that it has “long been known” that President Joe Biden interacted with his son Hunter’s business partners, sparking a wave of ridicule and teasing on social media.
Critics of the Gray Lady contended that the newspaper was “gaslighting” the public after lawmakers began to share what they heard from Devon Archer, a former business partner of Hunter Biden, during a closed-door interview.
“I’m guessing most NYT readers did not know this,” Washington Free Beacon investigative reporter Chuck Ross said in a post to X with a screenshot of the passage. New York Post columnist Miranda Devine replied, “This takes the cake! Something Joe Biden denied for three years and the NYT defended him on. Now it’s old news. You have to laugh.”
I'm guessing most NYT readers did not know this https://t.co/VmFxTiYZxs pic.twitter.com/rWX25Yw1zx
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) August 1, 2023
As attested by members of Congress, Archer told the House Oversight Committee that Hunter Biden put his father — then the vice president — on speaker phone roughly 20 times during meetings with business associates to sell the “brand” and the “illusion of access.” For years, Joe Biden claimed to have never spoken to Hunter about his business dealings, but lately, the White House has taken to saying the elder Biden never did business with his son.
To some, particularly those steeped in conservative politics and media, it seemed to be a major concession that The New York Times published a line that said it has “long been known” that the elder Biden had exchanges with his son’s business partners.
“Folks, just look at this sentence from the NYT,” Fox News contributor Guy Benson said in a post to X.
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“‘It has long been known. We just hid it from you,'” Christina Pushaw, rapid response director for Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis’s 2024 presidential campaign, quipped in response.
The verified account for the House Judiciary Committee GOP shared a meme of people moving a soccer goalpost.
https://t.co/dC3xskP0Xo pic.twitter.com/9IH7fNE43c
— House Judiciary GOP 🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryGOP) August 1, 2023
“As others have pointed out, the progression is perfect,” said Republican operative Matt Whitlock. “1. Joe has never spoken to his son about his business dealings 2. Joe has never spoken to Hunter’s business partners 3. We all have known all along that Joe spoke to his son’s business partners.. duh.”