In a revealing new interview, Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, has suggested that prescription sleep medication may have contributed to his father’s underwhelming performance during the first presidential debate against Donald Trump.
The comments came during a candid conversation on the Channel 5 News YouTube series hosted by Andrew Callaghan, where Hunter reflected on what he called the “beginning of the unraveling” of his father’s reelection campaign.
According to Hunter, President Biden had just returned from international travel before the June 27, 2024 debate and had reportedly taken Ambien, a common sedative often used to treat jet lag and insomnia. Hunter said the combination of long flights, fatigue, and medication may have left his father looking “a little disoriented,” describing him as appearing like “a deer in the headlights.”
While he did not claim that the president took the medication immediately before stepping on stage, Hunter emphasized that the buildup to the debate—marked by exhaustion and sleep disruption—could have played a significant role in how the president came across to the public.
“I don’t know exactly what happened,” Hunter told ABC News in a follow-up conversation. “But I do know that when you’re running on no sleep and you’ve been traveling back-to-back, and then there’s Ambien involved—it can have effects.”
The White House has so far declined to comment on the claims, nor has it confirmed whether President Biden used any sleep aids before the debate.
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The president’s debate performance drew sharp criticism from both political allies and opponents, with some Democrats openly questioning his capacity to continue in the race. Notably, actor and activist George Clooney, a longtime supporter, wrote an op-ed urging Biden to step aside—a move Hunter has publicly condemned as a betrayal.
Hunter defended his father fiercely, calling him the “only person who’s ever beaten Donald Trump” and accusing critics of panicking instead of supporting the president when he needed it most.
“This isn’t a reality show,” he said. “This is a presidency.”
The younger Biden’s remarks are now fueling further speculation over how the president was prepared for one of the most consequential moments of the 2024 campaign. For Republicans, the revelations are an opportunity to renew scrutiny of the president’s fitness for office, while Democrats find themselves navigating fresh questions about health, transparency, and trust.
As the campaign trail heats up, Hunter Biden’s comments may have added a new dimension to the national conversation about leadership, performance under pressure, and the behind-the-scenes decisions that shape public perception.
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Hunter Biden’s honesty sheds light on the very real physical and mental toll political leadership can take, especially during high-pressure moments like presidential debates. Whether or not Ambien directly affected former President Biden’s performance, this raises important questions about how leaders manage exhaustion and health behind the scenes. Instead of focusing solely on blame, this moment should push us to demand more transparency and accountability in how campaigns handle candidate wellness—because it directly impacts the people they aim to serve.