WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a revelation that’s stirring renewed debate across political circles, Hunter Biden has admitted that his father, President Joe Biden, was using Ambien, a powerful prescription sleep aid, leading up to – and possibly during – the disastrous June 27, 2024 debate against Donald Trump.
The comments came in a new interview with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan, where Hunter described the grueling travel schedule his father endured in the days before the CNN debate. He claimed the 81-year-old president was essentially being run into the ground, citing frequent time zone changes, mounting stress, and the use of Ambien to help him sleep. Hunter said his father appeared “like a deer in the headlights” on stage – a moment that marked the beginning of the end for Biden’s reelection campaign.
This admission is especially noteworthy because Donald Trump had long accused Biden of being “drugged up” to function during debates and public events. Trump famously called for drug testing before their 2020 and 2024 showdowns, claiming Biden’s behavior shifted dramatically from one appearance to the next. At the time, these claims were dismissed by much of the media and the Democratic establishment as baseless conspiracy theories.
But now, with Hunter Biden himself attributing the president’s faltering debate performance to Ambien — a sedative that can impair cognitive function and speech – Trump’s once-mocked allegations appear far less far-fetched.
And I’ll tell you what, I know exactly what happened in that debate. He (Joe Biden) flew around the world, basically the mileage he could have flown around the world three times. He’s 81 years old. He’s tired as shit”
While Hunter stopped short of confirming that Ambien was taken immediately before the debate, his remarks strongly suggest that the medication played a role in dulling the president’s mental sharpness when it mattered most.
That single performance tanked Democratic confidence and kicked off a political tailspin that ended with Biden officially withdrawing from the race on July 21, 2024 – just three weeks later. Vice President Kamala Harris went on to secure the nomination.
Now, with Hunter’s statements circulating widely, the Trump campaign and conservative commentators are having a field day, declaring that the former president was right all along – Biden was not mentally fit to serve, and those around him were allegedly propping him up with drugs just to keep the illusion alive.
Context Timeline:
- 2020: Trump accuses Biden of using performance-enhancing drugs, calls for drug testing ahead of debate.
- 2023–2024: Trump renews claims, warning Biden would be “jacked up” for campaign events and debates.
- June 27, 2024: Biden’s debate performance widely panned as confused and lethargic.
- July 21, 2024: Biden ends reelection bid.
- July 21, 2025: Hunter Biden claims Ambien and extreme travel contributed to debate failure.
The Bottom Line:
Whether or not Hunter intended to validate Trump’s claims, his comments are now being framed as the closest thing to confirmation yet that Biden was being medically assisted just to keep going – and that it backfired in the most public way possible. For Trump and his supporters, it’s vindication. For Democrats, it’s a PR nightmare.
Q1: Why would Biden’s team give him a sedative before such a critical debate?
A: Likely to help him sleep after intense travel. Ambien is commonly prescribed for insomnia, especially during jet lag — but it’s known to cause next-day grogginess and cognitive impairment, especially in older adults.
Q2: Was the Ambien taken the night before the debate or right before it?
A: Hunter didn’t specify exact timing. He said his father was using Ambien during that period, but didn’t confirm whether it was taken on debate day itself.
Q3: Was Ambien part of Biden’s regular routine, or a last-minute solution?
A: That’s unclear. If it was used regularly during travel, his team may have underestimated its lingering effects or assumed it wouldn’t interfere.
Q4: Did Biden’s advisors know the risks of giving Ambien before a debate?
A: Unknown — but this is exactly the kind of question now being raised by critics, especially given Biden’s age and public concerns about his stamina.
Q5: Could Ambien explain Biden’s confused and lethargic performance?
A: It’s possible. Ambien can cause drowsiness, slowed speech, memory lapses, and confusion — all of which were apparent on stage.
Q6: Were Americans misled about Biden’s health leading up to the debate?
A: Many now argue that the public wasn’t given the full picture — and that internal campaign decisions about medication and travel may have directly affected performance.
Q7: Was Trump right to demand drug testing before debates?
A: Trump was ridiculed for this in 2020 and 2024, but Hunter’s admission has led some to say those demands now seem more reasonable in hindsight.
Q8: Does this raise concerns about Biden’s overall fitness for office?
A: Yes. It’s reigniting conversations about mental sharpness, transparency, and how campaign staff manage the health of aging candidates.
Q9: Should candidates be required to disclose medication use before public appearances?
A: There’s no rule currently, but this situation could lead to new calls for greater medical transparency, especially in presidential races.
Q10: How does this impact Kamala Harris and the Democratic campaign?
A: It may complicate her position — especially if critics argue she was aware of Biden’s condition but remained silent. It also opens new lines of attack for Republicans.
