President Joe Biden received blowback from Donald Trump about the Secret Service’s discovery of blow in the White House Sunday.
The bag of white powder that Hazmat teams identified as cocaine was found in an area of the White House frequented by staff and guests, prompting an immediate evacuation.
President Biden and his son Hunter were not present at the time of the discovery, according to a BBC News report.
The 45th president expressed his concern about the incident and criticized media response, which he contrasted with coverage during his term.
“Had this happened during my administration,” former President Trump said, “the media outrage would have been beyond comprehension.”
Not all conservatives rushed to link the cocaine to the president’s son who has a documented history of drug addiction and abuse.
“Of course, social media starts making fun, bringing up Hunter’s name — it’s not funny,” Fox Business anchor Cheryl Casone said. “And I think that there’s a lot of cheap shots taken at Hunter Biden.”
“He is a recovering addict,” Casone continued. “Nobody wants to see him regress or slip back into addiction, and I think the social media comments were just tasteless on this whole story.”
Trump also questioned the possible involvement of Special Counsel Jack Smith, inquiring whether the investigation might link him to the incident. His speculation about Smith’s possible connection to the cocaine discovery stirred a new level of concern among many conservative audiences.
The former president also noted the reported absence of evidence like security tapes that determine who brought the illicit substance into the White House.
The White House voiced confidence that the Secret Service investigation will uncover the truth. The Biden family, who were at Camp David during the incident, have not issued a statement on the matter.
The situation sparked a broader debate about White House security measures.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) questioned the current security and screening process at the White House. Cocaine, a highly addictive Schedule II drug, at the heart of the nation’s government, is a pressing concern.
The impact of the discovery on perceptions of the administration is yet to be seen. As investigations continue, the country waits for answers to questions surrounding the unprecedented breach of White House security.
