Names matter. In the Biden family, they matter a lot. If you’ve ever seen a grainy C-SPAN clip of a toddler in a tiny suit being hoisted into the air on a stage full of red-white-and-blue bunting, you’ve likely seen a Joe Biden grandson. But which one? Honestly, the family tree is a bit of a maze, and keeping track of the "Hunter" and "Beau" names being passed down like heirlooms is enough to make anyone's head spin.
Basically, there are two primary grandsons who carry the weight of that famous last name. There’s Robert "Hunter" Biden II, the son of the late Beau Biden. Then there’s the youngest, little Beau Biden Jr., the son of Hunter Biden and Melissa Cohen.
It's kinda poetic, if you think about it. Hunter named his son after his late brother, Beau. Beau had already named his son after his brother, Hunter. It's a tight, emotional loop that tells you almost everything you need to know about how this family operates. They lean on each other. Hard.
The Original Grandson: Robert Hunter Biden II
Robert "Hunter" Biden II was born in 2006. He’s the son of Beau and Hallie Biden. Growing up as the first-born grandson in a family that basically lives at the Naval Observatory or the White House isn't exactly "normal."
Most of us spent our teen years worrying about SATs or who to take to prom. This kid spent his watching his father serve as Delaware’s Attorney General and then, tragically, losing him to brain cancer in 2015.
He was only nine.
You’ve probably seen him in the background of major events. He was there when his grandfather was sworn in as President in 2021. He’s often spotted with his older sister, Natalie. They seem close. They have to be. When your family is a constant talking point on cable news, you tend to circle the wagons.
Hunter II—as he's sometimes called to distinguish him from his uncle—has mostly stayed out of the tabloids. That’s a feat in itself. Unlike his uncle, whose life has been an open book of struggle and recovery, the younger Hunter seems to prefer the quiet life. He’s a college student now. Just a guy trying to get a degree while Secret Service agents likely hang out in the hallway of his dorm.
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The "Inauguration Star": Beau Biden Jr.
Then there’s the little guy.
Beau Biden Jr. was born in March 2020. If you remember the 2021 Inauguration, you remember him. He was the eight-month-old baby in the tiny plaid coat and bonnet, stealing the show while his grandfather took the oath of office.
His birth was a bit of a turning point for Hunter Biden. Hunter had just married Melissa Cohen, a South African filmmaker, after a whirlwind six-day romance. Yeah, six days. It sounds like a movie plot, but it happened.
Naming the baby Beau was a clear tribute. Joe Biden has often said that his son Beau should have been the one running for president. By naming the newest Joe Biden grandson after him, the family kept that memory front and center.
The President is notoriously obsessed with his grandkids. He reportedly calls or texts them every single day. No joke. Doesn't matter if he's in the Situation Room or on Air Force One—he’s checking in. You can see it in the way he carries Beau Jr. around. There’s a famous clip of them swaying to music at the White House. It’s a rare "human" moment in a very polished political world.
The "Seventh Grandchild" Controversy
We can't talk about the grandsons without mentioning the one that caused a massive media stir: Navy Joan Roberts.
For years, the official White House line was that the President had six grandchildren. But there was a seventh. Navy is the daughter of Hunter Biden and Lunden Roberts, born in Arkansas in 2018.
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The drama was real. There was a paternity suit. There were court battles over child support and the use of the Biden last name. For a long time, it felt like the family was freezing her out. Critics pounced. Even liberal columnists like Maureen Dowd wrote scathing pieces about the "coldness" of ignoring a child.
Finally, in 2023, the President acknowledged 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," Biden said in a statement. It was a big deal. It changed the narrative from "six grandkids" to "seven."
While Navy isn't a "grandson," her story is essential to understanding the family dynamic. It shows the messy, complicated reality of a family dealing with addiction, legal battles, and the crushing pressure of the spotlight. It wasn't pretty, but it was human.
Life in the Fishbowl
What’s it actually like to be a Joe Biden grandson?
Imagine having your 21st birthday tracked by the Daily Mail. Or having your college applications scrutinized by the press to see if "Pop" made a phone call to the admissions office.
Actually, there’s evidence of that. Leaked texts from Hunter Biden’s laptop showed the President (then the former VP) checking in on his grandkids' applications to the University of Pennsylvania. It’s the kind of thing a lot of powerful grandfathers do, but when you're a Biden, it becomes a national headline.
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They also play Mario Kart.
Naomi Biden, the oldest granddaughter, once posted a photo of her and "Pop" racing at Camp David. Apparently, the President is a bit of a sore loser (or a very competitive winner). These glimpses of normalcy are what make the Biden family interesting. They aren't just political figureheads; they are a sprawling, sometimes chaotic East Coast clan that loves ice cream and stays in each other's business.
Why It Matters
People search for "Joe Biden grandson" because they want to see if the family's "middle-class Joe" image is real.
Is it? Sorta.
They clearly value education and public service. They also clearly deal with the same stuff many families do: grief, divorce, and disagreements. The difference is their disagreements happen in front of a press corps.
Robert Hunter Biden II and Beau Biden Jr. represent the future of that legacy. One is a young man finding his way in the world, carrying the name of an uncle who has been the target of endless political attacks. The other is a toddler whose very existence was a sign of hope for a father coming out of a dark period of addiction.
What You Should Know
If you're following the Biden family story, keep these points in mind:
- Respect the privacy of the younger kids. While the adult grandkids like Naomi are active on social media, the grandsons are mostly kept out of the fray.
- The names are repetitive for a reason. In Irish-American families like the Bidens, honoring the dead by passing down names is a sacred tradition.
- The "Pop" factor is real. Every account from people close to the family confirms that Joe Biden is an intensely involved grandfather.
- Watch for the 2026 and 2028 cycles. As the younger generation comes of age, don't be surprised if you see them taking on more public roles, much like the Kennedy or Bush grandkids did.
The Biden family is currently navigating a post-presidency life, which means the spotlight might dim a little. But for the grandsons, the name Biden will always be both a door-opener and a target. How they handle that balance is the real story to watch.
To stay updated on the family’s public appearances or new additions, follow reputable news outlets that cover the East House social beat or check the official archives of the Biden Foundation. Look for the nuance beyond the political headlines to see the actual people behind the names.