In her latest memoir, “View from the East Wing,” former First Lady Jill Biden opts to sidestep some of the more contentious figures within the Biden family. Released on Tuesday, the book offers an introspective glimpse into the personal struggles of Hunter Biden, particularly his battle with crack cocaine addiction. However, it noticeably omits mention of a significant chapter in his life—the birth of a child during this challenging period.
This child, Navy Joan, now seven years old, is the result of Hunter’s relationship with Lunden Roberts. They met at a gathering held above the Swedish embassy in 2016, just one year following the passing of Beau Biden. Navy Joan was conceived in 2018, adding another layer to the complex narrative surrounding Hunter Biden.
Lunden Roberts has shared her side of this story in her own memoir, “Out of the Shadows: My Life Inside the Wild World of Hunter Biden,” published in 2024. Her account provides a detailed look into her connection with Hunter, offering perspectives that Jill Biden’s memoir chooses to leave unexplored.
The timing of Roberts’ book was initially intended to coincide with the November presidential election, yet it ultimately hit the shelves shortly after President Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the race. The release of both memoirs presents a multifaceted view of the Biden family’s intricate personal and political landscape.
Roberts detailed her relationship with Hunter in her own book, Out of the Shadows: My Life Inside the Wild World of Hunter Biden, which was released in 2024.
The book was set to be released ahead of the November presidential election, but it came out several weeks after President Biden dropped out.
During the White House years, Jill Biden occasionally took heat for not acknowledging her granddaughter.
She famously neglected to hang a stocking for Navy Joan in 2021 and 2022 as part of the Christmas display when all the other grandchildren were named.
First Lady Jill Biden greets audience members Wednesday at an event at Sixth and I Synagogue in Washington, DC, where she discussed her new book, View from the East Wing
Navy Joan (left) and Lunden Roberts (right). Roberts met Hunter Biden at a party in 2016 and got pregnant with Navy Joan in 2018. It wasn’t until 2023 that President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden acknowledged their granddaughter, and she isn’t mentioned in Jill’s memoir
It wasn’t until July 2023 that Jill and Joe Biden recognized Navy Joan as part of the Biden family, with the then-President giving a statement to People magazine that read: ‘Jill and I only want what is best for all of our grandchildren, including Navy.’
Jill skipped hanging the stockings in 2023 – so Navy Joan never got a stocking with her name adorned on it during the Biden administration.
The former First Lady dedicated an entire chapter of her book to the preparations surrounding the Christmas decorations, but didn’t mention anything about the stockings.
Roberts did not respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment.
While Jill writes tenderly about the Biden family cat, Willow, she also omits references to the three Biden German Shepherds the family owned while living in the White House.
Champ Biden died while the Democratic President was serving his single term.
Both Major, the first rescue dog ever to live in the White House, and later Commander had to be rehomed due to a series of biting incidents involving Secret Service agents.
While those dogs didn’t receive mentions, Jill gave shout-outs to the two new puppies the Bidens adopted – lab mixes Boo and Scout – at her appearance Wednesday night at Sixth and I Synagogue in Washington, DC.
Former President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden with all of their children, grandchildren and their great grandson at Easter, with the exclusion of Navy Joan. (From left) Ashley, young Hunt, Melissa Cohen, Hunter, Maisy, baby Beau, Finnegan, Joe, Jill, Peter Neal, baby William, Naomi and Natalie
First Lady Jill Biden (left) with the rescued German Shepherd Major, who had to be rehomed in 2021 afer a series of Secret Service biting incidents. The former First Lady writes about Willow in her new book, but doesn’t mention any of the Bidens’ dogs
Commander Biden, a German Shepherd the Bidens got as a puppy, was the second dog of the First Family who had to be rehomed after another series of biting incidents that involved Secret Service agents
It remains a mystery where Commander Biden now resides, but a friend of the Bidens named Steve Patterson revealed in April that he had taken the rescue pooch, Major, moving him to his hunting lodge in Panola County, Mississippi, in 2021.
‘On the home front, I’m pleased to report that Major has adapted just fine and is a happy dog who is a pleasure to be around,’ Patterson wrote in a piece for NEMiss.news.
‘He loves playing with the other dogs and is amazed by the horses, following them all day,’ Patterson continued. ‘He still has some quirky phobias like being frightened of storms and he can’t stand fire of any kind.’
A spokesperson for the Bidens did not respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment.
