Vice President JD Vance suggested that Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, might be eligible to receive a payout from the Trump administration's new $1.8 billion fund.
Vance made this suggestion during the White House press briefing on Tuesday while defending the new "anti-weaponization" fund.
"If Hunter Biden wants to apply for this particular fund, he is welcome to," Vance stated. "The president of the United States has pardoned a number of Democrats who he felt were actually subject to this lawfare."
Vance did not rule out the possibility that convicted Jan. 6 rioters could also receive money from the fund. He emphasized that the fund would review claims on a "case-by-case basis" and that he doesn't "rule things out categorically" when he knows nothing about a person's individual circumstances.
The Vice President said the claims will undergo a standard review process to verify their legitimacy.
The Fund In Question
On Monday, President Donald Trump made a settlement with the IRS, under which he agreed to drop a $10 billion lawsuit over the leak of his tax returns. As part of that deal, the Justice Department created a nearly $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" for people who say they were targeted for political reasons.
Trump, his sons Don Jr. and Eric, and the Trump Organization will not receive compensation from the IRS settlement fund but are set to receive a formal apology.
The fund will be overseen by five board members appointed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, with one selected in consultation with congressional leaders, while the president retains the power to remove members without cause.
Following the fund's creation, the Justice Department has now barred the IRS from pursuing future audits into past tax claims involving Trump, his relatives, and his companies.
Brian Morrissey, the Treasury Department General Counsel, resigned just hours after the announcement of the weaponization fund.
Backlash From Democrats
Democratic lawmakers criticized the development, with several senators and representatives calling the potential deal corrupt, unprecedented, and an abuse of taxpayer money.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said that "Trump thinks the U.S. Treasury is his personal piggy bank," while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) accused the President of prioritizing political projects over Americans struggling with rising living costs. In a post on X, Schumer wrote, "Donald Trump thinks the federal government is his personal slush fund."
Will Hunter Biden Seek Payout?
Hunter Biden was convicted on felony gun charges and pleaded guilty to tax offenses in 2024 before receiving a full pardon from his father, former President Joe Biden.
An official told the New York Post on Monday that Biden's son could "potentially" file a claim under the settlement, noting eligibility is not limited by political affiliation and both individuals and entities, whether Democrat or Republican, may apply. However, he added, "Whether the commissioners will agree with that, and feel like he needs to be compensated, is something that, I think we'll have to see."
