In 2018, President Joe Biden became a grandfather for the seventh time when his son, Hunter Biden, fathered his fifth child and fourth daughter. It was his first child with Lunden Roberts, who filed a paternity suit against Hunter in May 2019 after he claimed the child – named Navy Joan Roberts – wasn’t his.
Later that year, a DNA test confirmed that Hunter was, in fact, the father of the child – which resulted in a four-year-long legal battle that finally came to an end last month when Hunter reached a settlement with Lunden. Now, the Bidens and Roberts are working towards giving the child the best life possible.
BREAKING – YOUR REACTION: Following widespread condemnation, shock, and disgust, President @JoeBiden finally recognizes his seventh granddaughter, 4-year-old Navy Joan Roberts.
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) July 28, 2023
In a statement to People Magazine, rather than the White House pool, President Biden said, “Our son… pic.twitter.com/ejecqHXz07
Throughout the legal battle, which lasted about four years, Hunter’s father – Joe Biden – has declined to acknowledge Navy as his granddaughter. Instead, he described himself as a grandfather of six. Now that the legal battle has come to an end, Joe Biden is finally addressing himself as a grandfather of seven.
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“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,” Joe Biden said in a statement published by PEOPLE – marking the first time he called Navy his granddaughter.
He went on to politely call out all the politicians who have made light of the matter in recent months and hopes that others will give his family the privacy they need. “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,” Biden concluded.
Ron DeSantis was one of the Presidential candidates to make light of the matter. “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?” DeSantis said in Tennessee a few weeks ago – Navy was born in Arkansas.
As part of the settlement with Lunden, Hunter is agreeing to pay an undisclosed amount in child support until the child turns 18. He’ll also give Navy some of his paintings and will consider starting a college fund for the child. As for Lunden, she withdrew a request to have the baby’s last name changed to Biden.
Sources Confirm Joe Biden is Following His Son’s Lead
In addition to the statement they obtained from President Joe Biden, PEOPLE had several sources comment on the ongoing matter between Hunter and Lunden. According to one source, Joe Biden was reluctant to call Navy his granddaughter out of respect of his son’s legal battle with the child’s mother.
“You have to remember there were some fairly contentious legal proceedings between Navy’s parents happening until just a few weeks ago. As grandparents, the Bidens are following Hunter’s lead,” they said. “They are — and have been — giving Hunter and Lunden the space and time to figure things out.”
The source went on to add that it isn’t rare for families to work through these things in private – opposed to bringing these issues into the spotlight. They also confirmed that Navy’s best interest was taken into account the entire way. “At the center is a 4-year-old girl and everyone wants what is best for her.”
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With that said, Joe Biden (a father of four from two marriages) can now officially say he has seven grandchildren. Hunter Biden has five children – Naomi, 29, Finnegan, 22, Maisy, 22, Navy, 5, and Beau, 3. Biden’s other son, Beau Biden, has two kids of his own – Natalie, 18, and Robert ‘Hunter,’ 17.