Throughout the 2020 campaign, the past and business dealings of then-candidate Joe Biden's son—Hunter—were major talking points for Republican supporters of then-President Donald Trump.
Trump even secured his first impeachment by attempting to withhold resources for Ukraine on the condition that its President investigate the Bidens.
Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, trotted out a laptop allegedly belonging to Hunter Biden with supposedly damning evidence on its hard drive. Hunter Biden's struggles with addiction became a Republican centerpiece of Trump's impeachment hearings and of the presidential debates.
Few Republican lawmakers trafficked in gossip about Hunter Biden more than Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. He accused Hunter Biden of using Ukraine as an "ATM Machine" and continued to smear the Bidens even after the election was over.
But in private, Graham expressed contrition toward now-President Joe Biden, his longtime friend, once he'd defeated Trump in the general election, according to a new profile in the New York Times.
According to the Times, the previously unreported conversation between Biden and Graham
"was short, and not especially sweet, according to three people with direct knowledge of the exchange. Mr. Graham told Mr. Biden that, in attacking Hunter, he had done only the bare minimum to satisfy Trump supporters back home. (A Graham spokesman disputed that account.)"
The profile goes on to say that Biden expressed willingness to work with any Republican, but saw Graham's antics as "an unforgivable attack on his family," further believing Graham's contrition was the Senator "trying to have it both ways".
Americans just learning about the conversation had the same judgment.
Yeah. There is no apology that should be accepted.— Survivingnsweatpants (@Survivingnsweatpants) 1628987778
pic.twitter.com/eiF7e68Ndr— Jordan (@Jordan) 1628981975
The serpent shall be forced to crawl upon it's belly, it may flip from side to side but never shall it rise. Thus be the punishment for a soul devoid of truth and love.— BurningLight\u2600\ufe0f (@BurningLight\u2600\ufe0f) 1628982612
If this doesn't explain Graham well, I do not know what does. He was wishy-washy on the night of Jan. 6th to just a few days after.— H43 (@H43) 1628982253
They praised Biden's response.
Good for Biden. Graham is a PHONY. He made a deal with the devil and we'll never forget. He's evil and selfish!https://twitter.com/OccupyDemocrats/status/1426677644737777681\u00a0\u2026— CA Smartypants (@CA Smartypants) 1629039066
If #FAFO were a President!https://twitter.com/OccupyDemocrats/status/1426677644737777681\u00a0\u2026— Renee' C. (@Renee' C.) 1629114017
Yes! Uncle Joe!https://twitter.com/occupydemocrats/status/1426677644737777681\u00a0\u2026— WalkerNYC (@WalkerNYC) 1629065703
Good For President Biden https://twitter.com/OccupyDemocrats/status/1426677644737777681\u00a0\u2026— Allison Schultz (@Allison Schultz) 1629054231
Yaassssss President Biden! https://twitter.com/occupydemocrats/status/1426677644737777681\u00a0\u2026— \u2661\u2606\uff34\u2661\uff2b\u2606\u2661 (@\u2661\u2606\uff34\u2661\uff2b\u2606\u2661) 1629045804
Days after the phone call, Biden described Graham as a "personal disappointment".
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