- By Sakshi Srivastava
- Tue, 22 Jul 2025 11:34 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Hunter Biden Interview: Hunter Biden has claimed that his father, former US President Joe Biden, was using the prescription sleep aid Ambien ahead of the critical June 27, 2024, presidential debate against Donald Trump — a performance widely criticized and one that led to the elder Biden withdrawing from his re-election bid.
In a nearly three-hour interview with YouTube journalist Andrew Callaghan on Channel 5, Hunter said the combination of Ambien use and a relentless travel schedule contributed to the former president’s visibly sluggish debate performance. “He’s 81 years old. He’s tired as s--t,” Hunter said. “They give him Ambien to be able to sleep. He gets up on the stage, and he looks like he’s a deer in the headlights.”
Ambien Not Listed In Medical Disclosures
Hunter’s revelation has raised questions about the transparency of President Biden’s medical disclosures. According to the most recent official health summary released by White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor on February 28, 2024, Biden was listed as taking six medications — none of which included Ambien.
Hunter did not elaborate on the duration or source of the alleged prescription. The former president’s office has not responded to requests for comment. Ambien, a sedative-hypnotic, is typically prescribed for short-term treatment of insomnia. Known side effects include dizziness, confusion, and impaired alertness — symptoms that observers noted during Biden’s debate appearance.
A Performance That Changed The Campaign
The June debate, seen by millions of Americans, marked a turning point in the 2024 election. Biden, at the time preparing for re-election, struggled to complete sentences, appeared confused, and made several verbal missteps. The backlash was swift, with party leaders and media commentators urging him to reconsider his candidacy.
ALSO READ: Federal Judge Reverses Biden's Medical Debt Rule, How It Would Affect 15 Million Americans
Hunter said he had “no doubt” the poor showing was the result of exhaustion and the sedative effects of Ambien. He pointed to Biden’s heavy travel schedule prior to the debate — including trips to Europe and the US West Coast — as physically taxing. “He flew around the world — basically the mileage that he could have flown around the world three times. He gets up on the stage, and he looks like he’s a deer in the headlights, and it feeds into every .... story that anybody wants to tell,” he added.
Attacks On Fellow Democrats
Hunter Biden also used the interview to lash out at high-profile Democrats who publicly urged his father to step aside. He specifically called out actor George Clooney, political strategist James Carville, and former Obama adviser David Axelrod, accusing them of betrayal during a moment of vulnerability.