President Joe Biden said he would accept the jury's verdict in the federal trial of his son Hunter Biden and would not pardon him if he is convicted.
The president, speaking with ABC News while in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, was asked if he would accept the jury's verdict at his son's trial in Wilmington, Del., on gun charges.
"Yes," he said, adding another "Yes" when asked if he would rule out a pardon.
The White House has said since Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to the charges last year that the president would not pardon his son, who faces 17 years in prison if convicted.
"I've been very clear; the president is not going to pardon his son," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters in December.
Hunter Biden's federal trial began Monday. The first son, whose history with addiction and drug abuse has been well chronicled, is charged with lying about his drug use when he purchased a firearm in 2018.
He also faces another trial on tax charges that is slated to begin in September in California.
The president issued a statement on Monday saying he won't comment on the federal cases.
"But as a Dad, I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength. Our family has been through a lot together, and Jill and I are going to continue to be there for Hunter and our family with our love and support," he said.
The president, in the ABC News interview, also blasted his predecessor, Donald Trump, who has called his conviction last month in Manhattan criminal court of 34 charges of falsifying business records a "rigged" trail.
Biden said Trump is trying to "undermine" the rule of law.
"He got a fair trial. The jury spoke," he said.
