The White House has marked the completion of President Donald Trump's first year in his second term with a comprehensive list of 365 accomplishments, but one entry has drawn particular attention for its unusually inflammatory language targeting the president's political opponents.
Official Document Uses Polarising Language
In a departure from traditional White House decorum, the administration included in its "365 WINS IN 365 DAYS" document a pointed reference to Hunter Biden, describing him as a "notorious crackhead and grifter" while noting the removal of his taxpayer-funded Secret Service protection. This entry, listed as number 243 in the official compilation, highlights the administration's continued willingness to use official platforms for personal and political attacks.
Protection Removal and Political Context
The actual policy change occurred in March, when President Trump removed Secret Service protection from Hunter Biden and his sister Ashley Biden. While it is standard practice for adult children of former presidents to eventually lose such protections, the White House's celebratory framing of this administrative decision as a significant accomplishment represents a notable departure from conventional political discourse.
What makes this inclusion particularly striking is the deliberate choice of language. Traditionally, White House communications avoid such polarising terminology in official documents and speeches, maintaining a degree of decorum even when discussing political opponents. The Trump administration has consistently disregarded this unwritten rule throughout both terms, using its substantial platform to amplify attacks against perceived enemies.
Background of Personal Struggles and Political Weaponisation
Hunter Biden's personal challenges have been extensively documented and have frequently intersected with political controversies. His public struggles with substance use disorder, particularly involving crack cocaine, have been acknowledged by Biden himself in his writings and public statements. These personal difficulties have translated into various legal entanglements, most notably a federal gun case in 2023 that resulted in conviction on three charges.
The younger Biden's business dealings, particularly in Ukraine, and the controversy surrounding his laptop have provided ample material for political attacks from President Trump and his allies. These elements have been consistently weaponised to question the integrity of the entire Biden family and to undermine Joe Biden's political legacy.
Escalating Political Feud
The inclusion of the inflammatory Hunter Biden reference continues an escalating political feud between the two families. Earlier in October, the White House released a "Major Events Timeline" on its official website that featured an unflattering photograph of Hunter Biden during his period of substance abuse, further demonstrating the administration's willingness to use personal struggles as political ammunition.
Hunter Biden has not been a passive participant in this conflict. He has actively defended his father's post-presidential reputation and launched his own attacks against the Trump family. Most recently, he made unsubstantiated claims about Jeffrey Epstein introducing Donald Trump to Melania Trump, refusing to apologise when challenged on these assertions.
Broader Implications for Political Discourse
This incident raises significant questions about the normalisation of inflammatory language in official government communications. The blending of policy announcements with personal attacks represents a shift in how presidential administrations communicate their achievements and engage with political opponents.
The White House celebrated the anniversary with a multi-faceted approach that included social media campaigns, printed handouts, and an extensive press briefing lasting nearly two hours. While most acknowledgements focused on policy changes and governmental restructuring, the inclusion of personal attacks against political enemies reflects the distinctive style that has characterised the Trump administration's approach to political communication.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, this incident serves as another example of how personal narratives and official policy have become increasingly intertwined in contemporary American politics, with implications for how future administrations might approach similar situations.
