Inside President Joe Biden’s Family: Meet His Children and the Tragedy That Shaped Their Lives
Meet Joe Biden’s Four Children, Including One Who Tragically Died of Illness – What Happened?
The tale of the former US president is not only about politics. It’s a life influenced by fatherhood’s potent role, love, and loss. His children’s lives—and losses—tell a tale of pain and resiliency as dad deals with a serious illness.
Joe Biden, the former president of the United States, has been diagnosed with severe prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.
After he sought medical attention for issues related to his urine, physicians found a tiny lump on his prostate.
A score of nine is among the highest on the cancer severity scale. Although the disease is in Stage 4, it is said to be “hormone-sensitive,” which means that treatment may still be effective.
According to Biden’s office, “The president and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
The 82-year-old’s children’s narrative highlights the emotional fortitude he has maintained through both private grief and public service as he considers his future.
Beau, Hunter, and Naomi are Joe’s three children from his first marriage to Neilia.
He raised his surviving sons by himself when Neilia and Naomi passed away in 1972. He wed Jill Jacobs in 1977, and the two of them had a daughter named Ashley.
Each of his children has had a unique impact on his life; some have done so through well-known accomplishments, while others have experienced intense personal tragedy.
Biden, Ashley
The sole child born to Joe and Jill Biden is Ashley Blazer Biden, who was born on June 8, 1981. Ashley has chosen to maintain a quiet profile while focusing on social work and justice reform, in contrast to her half-siblings.
After graduating from Tulane University with a degree in Cultural Anthropology, Ashley went on to the University of Pennsylvania to obtain a Master of Social Work.
Supporting marginalized youth was the main emphasis of her early efforts. She worked as an Employment and Education Specialist at Wilmington’s West End Neighborhood House from 2006 to 2007.
After that, she worked on job training programs within juvenile detention facilities for Delaware’s Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families as an Education & Employment Liaison.
Ashley joined the Delaware Center for Justice, a nonprofit organization that supports those affected by the criminal justice system, as its Executive Director in 2012.
She stayed there for seven years, concentrating on systemic change, reform, and assistance for women who had served time in prison.
Ashley once stated in an interview with Elle magazine in 2023 that she had “never wanted to be in the public eye” and added, “Yeah, I still don’t.” She stated that her main priorities are sharing the experiences of others and helping organizations that are changing the world.
She describes herself as a social worker, criminal justice reformer, voter, proud family member, and dedicated dog mom in her social media bio, which echoes that sentiment. Howard Krein, a surgeon from Philadelphia, is her spouse.
Despite her tendency to stay out of the spotlight, she took on a more visible role in 2019 when she quit her nonprofit job to support her father during his presidential campaign.
Her behind-the-scenes participation demonstrated her commitment and conviction.
Her half-brother has spent a large portion of his adult life under close public observation, whilst Ashley has chosen a quiet life of advocacy.
Biden, Hunter
Born in 1970, Robert Hunter Biden survived the crash that killed his mother and younger sister at the age of two. His brother Beau had a shattered leg, and he had a cracked skull.
Their father was getting about to take the oath of office in the United States when the disaster happened. Senate.
Hunter graduated from Yale Law School in 1996 after attending Georgetown University. He met Kathleen Buhle, his first wife, while serving in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Maisy, Finnegan, and Naomi are the couple’s three daughters. They were married in 1993.
However, due to severe financial and personal pressure, their 24-year marriage dissolved in 2017. According to Kathleen, Hunter spent a lot of money on drugs, booze, and other extramarital affairs during their divorce, depriving the family of funds for necessities.
Kathleen considered the emotional cost of their relationship years after they had divorced. According to an interview related to her memoir, “If We Break,” she had forgiven Hunter for the suffering he brought about, including his infidelity and alcoholism.
“Anger is such a heavy weight to carry and I was in a lot of pain,” she stated. “When I made the decision to divorce, I wanted to let go of all of that.”
She admitted that a large portion of Hunter’s suffering resulted from a period when he was already experiencing severe crises. His battle with addiction worsened following his brother Beau’s death in 2015.
The emotional intensity of his relationship with her Uncle Beau was subsequently encapsulated by his daughter Naomi, who described the brothers as being so close that they appeared to have “One heart, one soul, one mind.”
Hunter encountered numerous legal and emotional difficulties in the ensuing years. A government probe into his foreign business activities and taxes was launched.
At about the same time, Lunden Roberts, a lady from Arkansas, filed a paternity claim in 2019. Hunter was eventually identified as Navy Joan Roberts’ father via DNA testing.
She wasn’t officially acknowledged at first, but Joe eventually recognized her.
“Our son Hunter and Navy’s mother, Lunden, are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter, preserving her privacy as much as possible going forward,” Joe said in a 2023 statement to People magazine.
He stressed that he and Jill only wanted the best for all of their grandchildren, including Navy, and that the matter was personal rather than political.
Hunter is currently raising a little son after getting married again, but he is still being watched by the government and the courts.
His brother’s life demonstrated quiet service, steady purpose, and rising promise — a path cut short by sickness — whereas Hunter’s troubles have been publicly displayed.
Biden, Beau
Joe and Neilia Biden’s eldest son, Joseph Robinette “Beau” Biden III, was born in 1969. Beau, who graduated from Yale Law School, enlisted in the Delaware Army National Guard in 2003. In 2008, he joined the Judge Advocate General’s Corps and deployed to Iraq. For his service, he received the Bronze Star.
Beau, a well-respected public worker, was elected Attorney General of Delaware in 2006 and again in 2010. He was well-known for standing up to child abuse and supporting victims.
He wrote to supporters in 2014 to declare his intention to run for governor, saying, “What started as a thought — a very persistent thought — has now become a course of action that I wish to pursue.”
But health problems halted his political ascent. In 2010, Beau experienced a slight stroke. He was given a brain cancer diagnosis three years later, in 2013. By November of that year, he was in remission after receiving therapy at MD Anderson in Houston.
Unfortunately, the cancer came back. At the age of 46, Beau passed away at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in May 2015.
In a message to his family, then-Vice President Biden “It is with broken hearts that Hallie, Hunter, Ashley, Jill and I announce the passing of our husband, brother and son, Beau, after he battled brain cancer with the same integrity, courage and strength he demonstrated every day of his life.”
Barack Obama, the president at the time, honored Joe’s late son by stating that he followed in his father’s footsteps by going to law school and working in public service.
Beau was described by him as “a good, big-hearted, devoutly Catholic and deeply faithful man,” and his influence on people is still felt and remembered today.
Although Beau’s passing was a major setback in Joe’s personal life, it wasn’t the first. His oldest daughter, whose life had only begun, had died decades before, causing him to suffer yet another sorrow.
Biden, Naomi
Naomi Christina Biden was the youngest of Joe and Neilia’s three children, born in November 1971. However, only a few weeks after Joe’s election to the U.S. Neilia, Naomi, and the Senate perished in an automobile accident. Joe had not yet assumed office and was thirty years old.
Neilia had planned to take the kids shopping for Christmas and pick up a tree in Wilmington, Delaware, that morning. Joe’s brother Jimmy called to inform him about the accident when he and his sister Valerie were in Washington, D.C., interviewing personnel.
Valerie turned to Joe after talking to him, saying, “There’s been a slight accident. Nothing to be worried about. But we ought to go home.”
At a little over a year old, Naomi passed away. Hunter and Beau, her brothers, were gravely hurt but made it out alive. In his memoir, “Promises to Keep:
On Life and Politics,” Joe spoke of his feelings at the time: “I could not speak… only felt this hollow core grow in my chest, like I was going to be sucked inside a black hole.”
Hunter honored her memory by naming his oldest daughter Naomi years later. With his expanding family, Joe’s role as a parent evolved into that of a grandfather and, now, a great-grandfather.
Joe’s four children and three from his first marriage have given him seven grandchildren: Joseph R. Naomi Christina “Amy” Biden, Robert Hunter Biden, and “Beau” Biden III. He and his grandchildren have discussed their close relationship and methods of communication over the years.
Joe’s Relationship with His Grandchildren
A number of Joe’s grandchildren discussed their relationship with him on “TODAY with Jenna & Friends” in 2021. According to his granddaughter Maisy Biden, dad called them frequently.
He would call a different grandchild to see how they were doing every few days. He never let being president stop him from going to games or activities whenever he could, she continued.
Joe also discussed his love and bond with his grandchildren in a 2022 interview on the SmartLess podcast. Even though he was elected President of the United States, his grandchildren lovingly refer to him as “Pop.”
He affirmed that his strong position had not altered the closeness of the family, pointing out that they communicate virtually every day. Speaking about his grandchildren, Joe stated that spending time with them had been his “best recreation” since he took office.
“They’re crazy about me and I’m crazy about them. Every single day, I contact every one of my grandchildren,” the lawmaker, who turned 80 that year, revealed.
The close-knit group of people helping the former president get through this tough period will surely include his grandchildren. Here is everything we currently know about each of them.
Biden, Naomi
Joe was getting ready to become a great-grandfather in January 2025. In an interview, he joyfully announced that his oldest grandchild, Naomi Biden, was set to have a C-section that month, saying, “I’m about to be a great-grandfather, Jesus God.”
Hunter Biden and Kathleen Buhle’s eldest daughter, Naomi, works as a lawyer. In 2022, she wed lawyer Peter Neal in a dramatic White House wedding. The pair lived in the White House and often traveled with Joe and Dr. Jill Biden.
On Election Day, Naomi made her pregnancy public for the first time. She has always stood by her grandfather, particularly since he decided not to run for president in 2024. She usually stays out of the spotlight, but last year she was a witness in her father’s federal gun trial, which resulted in his conviction.
Later, in December, the former president granted his son a pardon.
Biden, Finnegan
Finnegan Biden, Naomi’s younger sister, has garnered media attention for her active participation in campus politics and student advocacy. She spearheaded a demonstration in high school that contested and ultimately altered the dress code at her school.
She was still passionate about activism by the time she started college. As the University of Pennsylvania transitioned to online instruction in March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, students encountered increasing demands on their time and energy.
Finnegan led a student petition to extend the pass/fail grade selection deadline. Finnegan was a rising senior in the College of Arts and Sciences (Class of 2021).
Many people thought the April 13 deadline was too early. She made the case on Change.org that students who were juggling erratic living arrangements, time zone differences, and health issues required greater flexibility.
After more than 3,500 people signed her petition, the institution decided to extend the deadline until April 29, 2020.
In order to preserve unity, Finnegan purposefully avoided using rhetoric that might cause division throughout the campaign, particularly when it came to the contentious subject of required pass/fail grading. She reached student networks from every class year via social media and GroupMe.
The influence of the petition was reflected in the final policy change, even though the university took some time to respond. Finnegan reflected on the campaign and said he was proud of the unity of the student body.
“You have to be the change you want to see. Anything as little as just writing a petition. I hope everyone else can realize that it’s not that hard. But you have to do it.” Her efforts empowered students and promoted unity during a challenging time. She emphasized the significance of initiative and grassroots activism.
That May, Naomi shared two pictures of Finnegan, tagged her, and congratulated her on her achievements. She tweeted, “BURSTING WITH PRIDE AND PERPETUALLY IN AWE OF MY FIRST LOVE AND LITTLE SIS @finneganbiden ilysmsmsmsm.”
Biden, Maisy
Maisy, their younger sister, is succeeding on her own path, but Naomi and Finnegan have forged their own.
She identifies herself as Roberta Mabel “Maisy” Biden and explains that she is an artist on her website.
She begins with, “Welcome to the digital JUNK DRAWER. Where my art will live forever… until my autopay declines.”
“This is a space where I express my creativity through various forms of art. Join me on this journey as I showcase my unique pieces and share the stories behind each creation. Let’s explore the world of art together,” she stated.
Biden, Natalie
When Natalie Biden appeared on “TODAY with Jenna & Friends,” she said she was looking forward to witnessing what her grandparents will do as the US President and First Lady. The fact that they would just be “a few miles” from her flat further delighted her.
Natalie revealed that she could steal free food from their kitchen because they were close by!
The Biden grandkids received some behind-the-scenes information from Jenna Bush Hager, who resided in the White House during the administration of President George W. Bush.
After saying that living in the White House was enjoyable and a privilege, Jenna wished the girls well and remarked that there are “some cool places” upstairs, including a “secret door.”
Joe introduced Natalie, the daughter of his late son Beau, to the stage during a 2024 campaign event in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She had requested to attend the rally while she was a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania.
As Natalie gave her granddad a heartfelt embrace on stage, the audience cheered. Joe declared, “She’s the love of my life and the life of my love,” as she waved and grinned.
Before releasing her, he gave her a cheek kiss and mentioned that they had previously been there together.
Biden II, Robert “Hunter”
Joe and Jill, who frequently attend St. Joseph on the Brandywine in Wilmington, Delaware, went to their grandson Robert “Hunter” Biden II’s confirmation on a Sunday in 2021.
Around 1 p.m., the private family ceremony was held. Before Jill laid a bouquet at the family’s neighboring grave, the Bidens talked and posed for pictures outside. The late Beau and Hallie Biden are the parents of Robert, who was born in 2006.
Delaware’s attorney general from 2007 until his death from brain cancer was Beau, Joe’s oldest son. Joe’s perspective on military sacrifice was influenced by his time serving in Iraq with the Army National Guard.
Joe talked passionately about Beau’s service during a recent visit to Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, which affected his choice not to run for president in 2016.
The occasion emphasized the Biden family’s strong religious and memorial links. Joe has frequently mentioned his Catholic faith as a source of support during difficult times. His wife had pinned the following quotation to his mirror, he said: “Faith sees best in the dark.”
Through his presence at significant events and a picture on the Resolute Desk, Beau’s memory has persisted throughout Joe’s administration.
Roberts, Navy
Hunter Biden and Lunden Roberts are the parents of Navy Joan Roberts, who was born in Arkansas in August 2018. In May 2019, Lunden, who had met Hunter while studying in Washington, D.C., filed a paternity action in Independence County, requesting health insurance and child support.
On November 9, 2019, a court-ordered DNA test revealed that Hunter was Navy’s father, despite Hunter’s initial denial of the relationship and refusal to publicly acknowledge the kid.
Hunter was not anticipated to contest the results, and they were filed as part of the court file that month, according to Lunden’s lawyers, Jennifer and Clint Lancaster.
Lunden’s legal team placed a strong emphasis on protecting privacy and preventing any harm to Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential candidacy. Additionally, they claimed that although Hunter continued to publicly reject the relationship in interviews, he had privately confessed paternity.
Settlement talks were then in progress, and a court hearing was slated for December 2019.
Biden, Beau Jr.
Hunter and his wife, Melissa Cohen, honored the former’s late brother by naming their newborn son Beau Biden Jr. in January 2021. Prior to his inauguration, transition authorities identified “Beau Biden” as one of the people traveling with President-elect Joe from Delaware to Washington, D.C.
Hunter, who was 50 at the time, was spotted holding his newborn son, who was born in late March 2020, during the event on January 20. In May 2019, Hunter and Melissa tied the knot.
This is Hunter’s fourth kid; he and his ex-wife, Kathleen, who he divorced in 2017, have three daughters together.
Joe was devastated by Beau Sr.’s death in May 2015 at the age of 46, and as a result, he decided not to run in 2016.
One netizen said, “Timeline cleanser. Joe with his youngest grandson ‘Beau’ Biden Jr. Is he the cutest thing ever?” after seeing a picture of Joe holding his youngest grandson, calling him “precious.”
Someone else said, “He’s Adorable! Joe is a true family man.”
The accomplishments and lifestyles of Joe Biden’s grandkids carry on his legacy. His family’s strength continues to be his steadfast support as he encounters new difficulties.
