Hunter Biden attended at least six U.S. state dinners during the Obama and Biden administrations, including four when he was chairman of his now-defunct investment firm and two while being federally investigated over his business dealings with the firm.
President Biden has shown no signs of trying to distance himself from his embattled son, appearing alongside him in recent months during multiple public events despite Hunter’s legal troubles, including taking him on an official state trip to Ireland in April.
On June 22, just two days after it was announced Hunter and federal prosecutors had struck a plea deal, which has since fallen apart, the first son was seen hobnobbing among Washington’s elite during a state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Modi at the White House.
The lavish affair came more than six months after Hunter attended his dad’s first state dinner at the White House for French President Emmanuel Macron Dec. 1, 2022.
At the time of the dinners, Hunter was at the center of a years-long federal investigation into his business dealings and tax affairs, which continues today.
Hunter and federal prosecutors in Delaware announced a plea deal June 20, which included misdemeanor tax crimes and a diversion agreement on a felony gun charge, but it deteriorated in court.
During the Obama administration, when his father was vice president and he was founder and chairman of Rosemont Seneca Partners, Hunter attended at least four state dinners.
Hunter attended Obama’s first state dinner Nov. 24, 2009, for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, five months after he co-founded his firm with Devon Archer and Chris Heinz.
Hunter later attended a state dinner for British Prime Minister David Cameron March 14, 2012.
Roughly two years later, Hunter attended a state dinner for French President François Hollande Feb. 11, 2014.
He attended Obama’s final state dinner more than two years later on Oct. 18, 2016, for Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
During that dinner, Hunter was listed as representing his firm. ‘Mr. Hunter Biden, Chairman, Rosemont Seneca Advisors,’ the official guest list states.
Hunter was also invited to multiple State Department luncheons during his dad’s vice presidency, including three for China, where Hunter pursued multiple business deals, previous reporting has shown.
Obama held a state dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderón May 19, 2010, where Hunter’s Mexican business associate, Carlos Slim, was in attendance.
The New York Post reported in 2021 that Hunter and Slim were both invited to a State Department luncheon during Calderon’s visit, which was hosted by Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The next year, Obama held a state dinner for Chinese President Hu Jintao Jan. 19, 2011. Earlier that day, Hunter and Archer attended a State Department luncheon that VP Biden held for Hu.
‘You are seated at the same table as a guy who looks like he is the #3 at the Embassy,’ Schwerin wrote Hunter in an email just before the luncheon on Jan. 19, 2011. ‘He’d be the guy to ask for Guardian. Looks like you, Devon, and Paul are all at the same table. Also Ron Klain and Markell at your table. All subject to change, per Carlos. Also, Ann Curry from Today, SB Woo and John Cooney.’
Fox News Digital previously reported that Hunter used the same event as a networking opportunity to help one of his firm’s clients secure an event at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C.
A letter from then-Vice President Biden to Archer one day after the luncheon for Hu thanked Archer for attending the event.
‘I apologize for not getting a chance to talk to you at the luncheon yesterday,’ Biden wrote to Archer Jan. 20, 2011, according to the letter previously reported by Fox News. ‘I was having trouble getting away from hosting President Hu. I hope I get a chance to see you again soon with Hunter. I hope you enjoyed the lunch. Thanks for coming.’
Biden then included a handwritten note: ‘Happy you guys are together.’
Hunter was later invited to at least three more state luncheons — two for China and one for India — during his dad’s vice presidency, according to emails on his laptop, though it is unclear if he attended.
The White House and Hunter’s lawyer did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Jessica Chasmar is a digital writer on the politics team for Fox News and Fox Business. Story tips can be sent to Jessica.Chasmar@fox.com.