Says Joe Biden confused his son and his grandson.
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Despite what video implies, Joe Biden didn’t confuse son with grandson
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Biden said: "Hunter lost his dad, and I lost my son." His reference was to his grandson Hunter, the son of Beau Biden, not to his son Hunter.
Joe Biden has committed his share of gaffes, dating back to well before he became president.
But his critics, sometimes implying that the 78-year-old Democrat has cognitive problems, have often highlighted things he has said in ways that are misleading.
A TikTok video in which Biden refers to "Hunter" is one of those.
TikTok identified this video as part of its efforts to counter inauthentic, misleading or false content. (Read more about PolitiFact's partnership with TikTok.)
In the post, which carries a "Deep Fake Biden" headline, a man in the foreground of the 12-second video flashes a quizzical look after Biden, in a clip in the background, says:
"As many of you know, this is a hard day for us. Six years ago today, Hunter lost his dad, and I lost my son."
Featured Fact-check
Biden has a son named Hunter, but despite the impression the video might leave, Biden was referring in that speech to his grandson who goes by the name Hunter Biden, not to his son..
Biden was speaking in his home state of Delaware at a Memorial Day service on May 30, the day before the holiday. He opened his remarks with a reference to Hunter and noted that earlier in the day, a memorial Mass was held for his late son Beau who died from brain cancer in 2015.
Then he said: "Folks, it’s also an important tradition in our family. As many of you know, this is a hard day for us. Six years ago today, Hunter lost his dad, and I lost my son."
A USA Today story said Joe Biden’s reference was to his grandson Hunter, and a New York Post story said the grandson accompanied Biden at the service. A Reuters news photo shows Biden’s grandson seated beside him at the service.
The president’s son Hunter Biden was in the news during his father’s 2020 presidential campaign over his ties to China and Ukraine.
The grandson’s full name is Robert Hunter Biden II, and he was named after his uncle, according to Hunter Biden and media reports.
We rate the post False.
Our Sources
TikTok, post, June 1, 2021
The White House, "Remarks by President Biden at an Annual Memorial Day Service," May 30, 2021
Today.com, "How the names of the Biden grandchildren pay tribute to his family," Jan. 22, 2021
YouTube, NBC News video, May 30, 2021
Reuters, "Biden marks son Beau's death with grave visit, remarks to military families," May 30, 2021
New York Post, "Biden praises military as ‘solid spine’ of the US at Memorial Day service," May 30, 2021
USA Today, "'We're free because they were brave': Biden honors Memorial Day dead at Arlington National Cemetery," published May 30, 2021, updated May 31, 2021
USA Today, "Meet the Bidens: A who's who of the new first family," Jan. 22, 2021
Colorado Public Radio, Hunter Biden interview, April 30, 2021
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Despite what video implies, Joe Biden didn’t confuse son with grandson
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