Trump is expected to make the debate about Hunter Biden. Even Trump's allies think that's a bad idea.


From his infamous call with Ukraine's president more than a year ago to a very questionable New York Post story this week, President Trump has turned much of his re-election campaign into a crusade against Democratic nominee Joe Biden's son. Trump is even expected to throw a few references to Hunter Biden into Thursday night's debate — and some of his allies think it's an awful idea.
Fox News, the New York Post, and other right-wing outlets have started sharing dubious screenshots of what they claim are conversations between Hunter Biden and business partners. They allegedly show the Biden family conspiring on a deal in China, with references to Hunter's former business partner Tony Bobulinski and references to a "chairman" apparently supposed to refer to the former vice president. Trump is expected to double down on those attacks at the last presidential debate Thursday night by referring Biden "the big guy" and "the chairman," and also by bringing Bobulinski as his special guest, Axios reports.
If you thought that short description of the allegations against the Bidens was vague or hard to follow, you're not alone. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a consistent ally of Trump, criticized the president's Hunter campaign as a "mistake" on Wednesday. "The average person doesn't understand it, it is too complicated," Huckabee said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Republican pollster Frank Luntz was more blunt in a Tuesday Mediaite interview. "Hunter Biden does not help put food on the table. Hunter Biden does not help anyone get a job. Hunter Biden does not provide health care or solve COVID. And Donald Trump spends all of his time focused on that and nobody cares."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Bolivia elects centrist over far-right presidential rival
Speed Read Relative political unknown Rodrigo Paz, a centrist senator, was elected president
-
Madagascar president in hiding, refuses to resign
Speed Read Andry Rajoelina fled the country amid Gen Z protests and unrest
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime minister
In the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Israel, Hamas agree to first step of Trump peace plan
Speed Read Israel’s military pulls back in Gaza amid prisoner exchange
-
Israel intercepts 2nd Gaza aid flotilla in a week
Speed Read The Israeli military intercepted a flotilla of nine boats with 145 activists aboard along with medical and food aid
-
Japan poised to get first woman prime minister
Speed Read The ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi
-
Israel and Hamas meet on hostages, Trump’s plan
Speed Read Hamas accepted the general terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, including the release of all remaining hostages
-
US tipped to help Kyiv strike Russian energy sites
Speed Read Trump has approved providing Ukraine with intelligence for missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure