President Biden made it clear in an interview with ABC News that he would accept the verdict of the jury in his son Hunter’s trial on charges of lying on a federal form when purchasing a gun. The President also stated that he would not pardon Hunter if he is convicted. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty, claiming that he was not lying on the form as he was recovering from drug use at the time of the purchase.
In other news, President Biden met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Paris following their attendance at ceremonies in Normandy marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Biden expressed regret over delays in providing military supplies to Ukraine caused by Republicans in Congress. Zelenskyy, in a speech to France’s National Assembly, warned of Russia’s destabilizing actions in Europe.
On the employment front, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a significant increase in employment in May, with total nonfarm payroll employment rising by 272,000. However, the unemployment rate remained at 4%, with 6.6 million people still unemployed. In contrast, Gaza is facing a dire situation with an unemployment rate of 79.1%, the worst in decades according to the United Nations Labor Agency.
Meanwhile, at a Donald Trump rally in Phoenix, at least 11 people were hospitalized due to the extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 112 degrees. During the rally, Trump made false claims about President Biden and his own legal troubles. In a separate incident, Republican members of Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives booed and walked out on former U.S. Capitol police officers who defended the Capitol on January 6, drawing criticism from Democrats for their disrespectful behavior towards the officers.