By As Donald Trump and Joe Biden gear up for a high-stakes debate hosted by CNN, Trump has signaled his intent to revive attacks on Hunter Biden, thrusting the president’s son and his recent legal troubles into the spotlight once again.
The upcoming face-off between Trump and Biden marks their first encounter since 2020, and Trump has wasted no time previewing his strategy. He has reignited a longstanding feud over allegations surrounding Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings, which gained renewed attention following Hunter’s recent felony conviction in a gun trial. Republicans seized on revelations from Hunter’s abandoned laptop, alleging he profited from his father’s political position.
Speaking at a conservative conference, Trump dismissed claims of Russian disinformation regarding Hunter Biden’s activities and hinted that the topic would feature prominently in the debate. The absence of an in-person audience for the 90-minute event adds a new dynamic, potentially altering the usual cues and responses during such encounters, Trump noted in an interview with the Washington Examiner. Reflecting on his previous debate performance against Biden in 2020, Trump acknowledged past mistakes in interrupting Biden excessively and indicated he aims to avoid a repeat.
Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, emphasized the need for fair treatment from CNN moderators, suggesting they press Biden about his previous denial of Hunter Biden’s laptop during the 2020 debate. Meanwhile, Biden’s team prepares for various versions of Trump on stage, including a combative Trump focused on grievances or a more disciplined approach, analyzing recent interviews to anticipate potential triggers.
Despite Trump’s history of attacking opponents, he has notably refrained from targeting Hunter Biden over his struggles with addiction, a stance some view as extending an olive branch. However, a former senior Trump administration official highlighted that Trump’s animosity is primarily directed at Joe Biden, with Hunter’s situation viewed as a byproduct of his father’s influence.
As Biden readies himself at Camp David for potential debate topics, including Hunter Biden’s legal issues, speculation swirls about how Trump will approach the subject. Trump’s political action committee has suggested lines of inquiry for moderators, but Biden’s aides doubt it will dominate the debate unless Trump shifts his strategy.
Republicans cautious about Trump’s focus on Hunter Biden’s conviction cite risks of deflecting from policy issues and drawing attention to Trump’s recent legal troubles. Trump’s conviction in New York last month on charges related to a hush money payment has impacted his standing among swing and independent voters, according to recent polling by Fox News.
The looming debate carries the potential for contentious exchanges, with Trump likely to revisit allegations against Hunter Biden, echoing past claims of corruption. Biden’s defense in previous debates has centered on refuting these allegations as discredited or potentially linked to Russian disinformation, setting the stage for a clash over credibility and character on the national stage once more.
NBC
