Imagine that you’re in the Biden administration. You’ve just spent the last several months touting the “rule of law” against your Republican opponents, and last week you felt particularly smug when a New York jury convicted the former president of — well, you’re not sure what of, exactly, but it doesn’t matter. The law found him guilty. Now a convicted felon is running for the presidential office. That’s easy to weaponize on the campaign trail. The problem is, every time you say “rule of law,” you can’t help thinking about Hunter Biden.
The current president’s son is currently sitting in court listening to his exes and his sister-in-law (who is also his ex) testify against him on charges that he illegally bought a gun by claiming he was not addicted to drugs. That case puts the Biden administration in a quandary. When asked about Trump, it can smugly say something about the “rule of law.” But, when asked about Hunter Biden, its best options include throwing the president’s son under the bus — and it’s not entirely clear the Biden family will cooperate. (READ MORE: Hunter Biden Trial Again Proves Cocaine Is a Helluva Drug)
President Joe Biden’s staff wrote a very nice statement on his behalf that read: “I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. Hunter’s resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he has brought to his recovery are inspiring to us.” Meanwhile, Jill Biden showed up in the courtroom to support her son this week. While no mother can blame her, it does seem counterproductive as a political move.
So I asked ChatGPT what they should do. The response was too long to include here, but it does make me wonder if the Biden administration staffers aren’t using artificial intelligence to determine their next steps in a difficult PR situation. The bot told me that the administration should prioritize transparency (internal Democrat politics may dictate otherwise), assure the public that the president won’t pressure the DOJ one way or the other, and distract the American people with tales of Joe Biden’s successful economic policies and his contributions to healthcare and the infrastructure. (WATCH: Democrats Failed Gen Z. That Will Matter in November.)
I can predict some problems with those strategies — for one, the Biden administration would have to have successful economic policies to boast about their success — but then again, the Biden administration is in a tough position. I also asked the bot to give me a broad overview of the case (I promise, I did my own research). I was fairly surprised by the bot’s relative impartiality, although the sourcing was interesting, to say the least.
The bot cites an article from DNyuz, a site I was completely unfamiliar with. Reddit reliably informed me that “Dnuyz” is Russian for the word “day,” that the site is registered in Armenia, and that many of the articles are lifted from better-known publications. Take that explanation with a grain of salt (this is Reddit after all), but that seems suspicious. It also cited articles from the Independent via Yahoo, People magazine, and USA Today (also via Yahoo). I guess ChatGPT knows its way around paywalls. (READ MORE from this column: AI Has Thoughts on Trump’s Guilty Verdict)
Without further ado, here is ChatGPT-4o’s explanation of this week’s legal proceedings against the president’s son for your consideration. As always, your task is simple: Read it and head to the comments section to share your thoughts!
PROMPT: Please summarize the current Hunter Biden trial in Delaware in 300 words. Include its implication for national politics, the controversies it’s caused in light of Trump’s conviction in New York last week, and its potential impact on the 2024 election.
CHATGPT-4o: Hunter Biden’s trial in Delaware, which began on June 3, 2024, centers on three federal felony charges related to his 2018 purchase and brief possession of a firearm while allegedly using illicit drugs. The charges include making false statements on a federal form and illegally possessing a gun (Peoplemag) (DNyuz).
This trial, occurring just after Donald Trump’s recent conviction in New York, has significant political implications. It adds to the already charged atmosphere as President Joe Biden campaigns for re-election and raises questions about political bias and fairness in the legal system (Peoplemag). President Biden has stated he will not pardon his son if convicted, aiming to demonstrate a commitment to judicial impartiality (Yahoo).
The trial has stirred controversy, especially in light of Trump’s conviction. Trump’s supporters argue that the timing and handling of Hunter’s case suggest a double standard in the justice system, while critics see both trials as necessary steps toward accountability (DNyuz). The outcome of Hunter Biden’s trial could impact public perception of the Biden administration’s integrity and influence the 2024 election, potentially affecting voter trust and the political narrative around the Biden family (Yahoo).
Given these high-profile legal proceedings, the American political landscape remains highly polarized, with each side scrutinizing the other’s actions and implications for future governance.
