Hunter Biden Admits His Addiction Worsened Dad Joe's Health Due to Worrying and Stress About His Drug Use: 'He Never Let Me Go'

In a candid interview broadcast on BBC Newsnight, Hunter Biden admitted that his years-long battle with drug addiction "of course" made his father, former President Joe Biden's, life and health worse due to the extreme worry and stress it caused.

The 56-year-old has been highly transparent about his decades-long battle with drug and alcohol addiction, a struggle he has detailed in media appearances and in his 2021 memoir, Beautiful Things.

When asked if his struggles inflicted additional fear of loss on his father — especially after the death of his brother Beau — Hunter stated, "Of course I did. That's what addiction does... absolutely."

He emphasized that he refused to run from the question or be offended by it.

Beyond his father, Hunter acknowledged that the collateral damage of his addiction extended to his mother, aunts, uncles, and children.

“You know, I think that most people would sit here and try to run from that question or be offended by it. But absolutely, not just in my dad, but in my mom and my aunts and uncles, to my children, to my relationships down the line, but in particular to my dad, who never let go. And even through that, even with the with the knowledge of that, he never, ever, ever let me go. He always left the door open,” he said.

Hunter noted that while Joe never "let him off the hook" or removed consequences, his father kept the door open with unconditional love, which ultimately saved his life.

“I always say to people that unconditional love doesn't mean love without consequences. It doesn't mean love without accountability. My dad never let me off the hook, but what my dad did was always make it clear that when I was ready to come back, the door was open and that he loved me just as much no matter what,” he said.

The admission came during a broader, wide-ranging interview where Hunter also shared emotional details regarding his 83-year-old father's current health status.

Hunter confirmed that Joe's prostate cancer — originally diagnosed in May 2025 — has since metastasized into his bones.

He described the illness as "very painful" and "very debilitating," but noted that the former president refuses to complain and remains actively engaged in public issues.

Following the revelation, he took to X to thank well-wishers for their prayers for his father, whom he called his and his family’s “rock,” and said his dad’s “going to be OK.”