The veteran journalist became emotional discussing the Biden family’s internal struggles, particularly Hunter’s addiction and the impact it had on the entire household.
“I got so angry at Joe Biden, the man,” Todd admitted, “when I read the transcript of the Hunter Biden trial and realized that not one, not two, but three people in that family — including Beau’s widow — were dealing with drug issues in 2018.”
“And what does Biden decide? That this is the moment to run for president? As if his family didn’t matter? As if that wasn’t a crisis?”
The Myth of “America’s Dad”?
Todd argued that the media — including himself — played a role in building and reinforcing the mythology surrounding Biden as a man defined by fatherhood, loss, and emotional resilience. But now, that mythology, he says, is collapsing under scrutiny.
“There’s a mythology about Joe Biden — that he’s the guy who always puts his family first,” Todd said. “That he’s the empathetic father figure, that he’s America’s dad.
But when you start peeling it back, especially after everything we’ve learned through the Hunter Biden saga, it really makes you wonder what was real and what was just political storytelling.”
A Shift in Media Tone?
Todd’s remarks mark a notable shift in tone from mainstream media figures, particularly those who once largely accepted Biden’s personal narrative at face value.
As Biden faces growing questions about his age, acuity, and leadership ahead of a contentious 2024 re-election bid, critics like Todd are increasingly willing to challenge the authenticity of his image.
With trust in institutions — including the media and presidency — at an all-time low, Todd’s reflection hits a deeper nerve: Have the American people been fed a carefully constructed illusion for four decades? And if so, what does that mean heading into another election season?
For Todd, the answer may be unsettling: “We bought into a story that was never fully true — and maybe it’s time we stop romanticizing it.”