A Nov. 29, 2024, photo shows US President Joe Biden and son Hunter Biden stepping out of a bookstore while shopping in Nantucket, Massachusetts on Nov. 29, 2024. Biden on Sunday issued an official pardon for his son Hunter, who is facing sentencing for two criminal cases related to tax evasion and the purchase of a firearm. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden was deeply unpopular, new polling reveals. However, a pardon granted by his predecessor — and now-successor — was just as disliked.

In a recent YouGov poll, 50% of respondents said they strongly or somewhat disapproved of Biden granting clemency to his son. A much smaller share, 34%, strongly or somewhat approved, while 16% were not sure.

The responses were divided along partisan lines, with 64% of Democrats saying they approved, with just 25% of independents and 13% of Republicans saying the same.

The poll, which sampled 3,583 U.S. adults, was conducted on Dec. 2, the day after the president granted Hunter Biden a “full and unconditional” pardon for any federal crimes committed in the last decade.

Hunter Biden had previously pleaded guilty to tax evasion and felony charges related to his purchase of a handgun. The president argued that his son was “selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.”

The poll also asked respondents to weigh in on President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to pardon Charles Kushner, his son-in-law’s father, during his first term.

On Dec. 23, 2020, Trump issued a full pardon for Kushner, who had been convicted of witness retaliation and making false tax returns, among other things. He left prison in 2006 after serving a two-year sentence.

Kushner’s “record of reform and charity overshadows” his conviction, the White House said at the time in a statement.

Fifty percent of respondents said they strongly or somewhat disapproved of Trump’s decision to pardon Kushner. Meanwhile, 22% said they strongly or somewhat approved, and 28% said they were not sure.

The responses were similarly split along partisan lines, with 39% of Republicans, 17% of independents and 14% of Democrats saying they approved.

A separate YouGov poll, conducted on Dec. 3, asked respondents to weigh in on Biden and Trump’s use of pardons more broadly.

Thirty-nine percent said they believed Biden’s pardons or commutations have been inappropriate, while 32% said they were appropriate and 28% said they weren’t sure.

The responses were similar for Trump, according to the poll, which sampled 5,147 U.S. adults.

Forty percent said they believed the president-elect’s acts of clemency during his first term have been inappropriate. Meanwhile, 30% said they were appropriate and 30% said they were not sure.

Lastly, the poll asked respondents whether they generally favored allowing the president to issue pardons or commute sentences.

A majority, 57%, said they strongly or somewhat approved of the president holding this constitutional power, while 28% said they strongly or somewhat disapproved. Fifteen percent said they were not sure.

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