A new report from Axios has shed light on the complicated dynamics between the Obama and Biden families, with former First Lady Michelle Obama reportedly distancing herself from the Bidens over their treatment of her close friend Kathleen Buhle, the ex-wife of Hunter Biden.
According to sources, Michelle Obama was initially reluctant to campaign for President Joe Biden when he became the nominee in 2020, and her reluctance was reportedly fueled by her concerns over the way the Biden family had treated Buhle.
The tensions between the Obamas and Bidens were said to have begun even before Hunter Biden and Buhle divorced, with Michelle Obama allegedly feeling that the Biden family had wronged Buhle and blaming her for the “salacious” details of Hunter Biden’s behavior going public.
Hunter Biden had been married to Buhle, and later began dating Hallie Biden, the widow of Beau Biden. The drama surrounding the Biden family’s personal lives reportedly created a rift between the Obamas and Bidens, with Michelle Obama and her team feeling that the Biden family had mistreated Buhle.
The report also revealed that Hunter Biden had grown to resent the Obama White House after being forced to quit his job as a lobbyist due to concerns about the optics. In his memoir, Hunter Biden wrote about the difficulties he faced after quitting the job, saying it felt like “riding the escalator without an exit.”
Additionally, Hunter Biden had written about how some Obama staffers would undercut and mock his father, creating tension between the two families.
Despite these tensions, there have been discussions between the Obama and Biden camps about Michelle Obama campaigning for Biden this year. However, it remains to be seen whether these discussions will lead to a formal endorsement.
