Why Is There a Voicemail of Biden Talking to Hunter About His Business? Jean-Pierre: 'What the President Said Stands' (July 5, 2022)

A Fox News reporter, whom White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called Peter, asked about a recording that had just surfaced. “Why is there a voicemail of the President talking to his son about his overseas business dealings if the President has said he’s never spoken to his son about his overseas business dealings?” he asked, according to the official White House transcript [1].

“Well, first, I’ll say that what the President said stands. So if he — if that’s what the President said, that is what stands,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

The reporter pressed. “He’s leaving a voicemail about a New York Times article —” the reporter said. Over Jean-Pierre’s “But secondly,” the reporter went on: “concerning Hunter Biden’s business dealings. And it says, ‘I think you’re clear.’ How is that not him talking to his son about his overseas business dealings?” [1]

“We’re not — from this podium, I am not going to talk about alleged materials from the laptop,” Jean-Pierre said. “So are you disputing that it’s President’s voice on the voicemail?” the reporter asked. “I am not going to talk about alleged materials on a laptop. It’s not happening,” she answered [1].

“Peter, I refer you to his son’s representative,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

The voicemail, first reported by the Daily Mail, is from 2018, Fox News reported. “Hey pal, it’s Dad. It’s 8:15 on Wednesday night. If you have a chance give me a call. Nothing urgent—I just wanted to talk with you,” Biden is heard saying. “I thought the article released online, it’s going to be printed tomorrow in the Times, was good. I think you’re clear.” [2]

The New York Times article, Fox reported, covered “a private meeting between the chairman of a now-defunct Chinese energy company, CEFC, and Hunter Biden at a Miami hotel in May 2017” [2].

The video above shows the July 5, 2022, briefing. Quotes are from the official White House transcript [1].

”Always Level With You”

A reporter she called Phil came back to it. “The President likes to say ‘I will always level with you.’ He says that again and again. Moments ago, though, you seemed to dismiss Peter’s question about his conversation with his son, Hunter Biden, with regards to his business dealings, and I’m wondering: How is that silence consistent with the President’s promise to always level with the American public?” [1]

“Phil, I hear your question, but what I can tell you from here, standing at this podium, is that I cannot comment on any materials from the laptop. And I would refer you to the representatives of Hunter Biden,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

Oil From the Reserve, Headed Overseas

The same reporter asked about the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. “There’s a Reuters report out this morning that says that more than 5 million barrels of oil that were released from the emergency oil reserves were exported to Europe and Asia last month, and some of it, reportedly, was actually heading to China. Is the administration aware of those reports?” [1]

“I have not seen that report, so I would honestly have to go look into it,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

”From Blaming High Gas Prices on Putin to Big Oil”

The same reporter had opened on gas prices. “How did the President go from blaming high gas prices on Putin to Big Oil to small-business owners now?” he asked [1].

He followed with a quote from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who had called a Biden tweet “either straight ahead misdirection or a deep misunderstanding of basic market dynamics.” “Which is it?” the reporter asked. “As you know, we completely disagree with Jeff Bezos,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

”Do We Believe We’re in a Recession? No.”

Another reporter cited the Atlanta Fed’s tracker showing second-quarter growth at negative 2.1 percent. “Does the President believe that we are in a recession, first of all?” the reporter asked. “So, first, do we believe we’re in a recession? No. That’s — that’s my answer to you on that,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

By the Numbers

5 million+: barrels of reserve oil a reporter said were exported last month [1].
15 percent: the drop in crude and wholesale prices Jean-Pierre cited [1].
3 percent: the drop in retail gas prices over the same period, per Jean-Pierre [1].
50 minutes: the briefing, 3:31 to 4:21 p.m. [1].

What Happened Next

House Republicans laid out the calls. In August 2024, the House Oversight, Judiciary and Ways and Means committees said Biden “actively participated in his conspiracy by, among other things, attending dinners with his family’s foreign business partners and speaking to them by phone, often when being placed on speakerphone by Hunter Biden,” Fox News reported [3].

Biden pardoned his son. On Dec. 1, 2024, Biden pardoned Hunter Biden for offenses he “has committed or may have committed” from Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 1, 2024, Fox reported [4].

For the White House’s answer on another Hunter Biden message a year later, see HYGO News’ page on June 23, 2023.