Hunter Biden’s description of his “superpower of finding crack” cocaine was used against him by prosecutors in the opening of the federal gun trial against the US president’s son.

Mr Biden Jr, 54, pleaded not guilty to two charges of lying about his crack cocaine addiction on forms to buy a Colt Cobra .38 handgun, and one charge of possessing a firearm while using drugs.

“No one is above the law, it doesn’t matter who you are or what your name is,” prosecutor Derek Hines said as he opened the government’s case on Tuesday.

Mr Hines played lengthy excerpts for the jury of Mr Biden Jr narrating his 2021 autobiography, Beautiful Things, in which he details his drug addiction.

Jurors heard the president’s son in his own words describe his “superpower of finding crack anywhere, anytime”, sometimes smoking crack cocaine every 15 minutes.

Mr Hines told the jury Mr Biden Jr was attempting to buy drugs just days after lying on a gun background check, and showed texts he sent calling himself “a liar and a thief”.

Mr Biden Jr looked down at the ground as audio of his voice filled the courtroom in the Biden family’s hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.

At other points, Mr Biden Jr turned to look at the first lady, Jill Biden, who sat in the front of the public gallery along with Mr Biden Jr’s half-sister, Ashley Biden, and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden.

The three women appeared relaxed and chatted amongst themselves during breaks in the proceedings.

Mr Biden Jr’s former lovers, including his late brother’s widow Hallie Biden, will be called by the prosecution to testify and divulge “embarrassing” personal details, prosecutors said. His ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, was expected to take the stand later on Tuesday afternoon.

The president’s son faces a second trial on tax charges in California in September after the collapse of a plea deal last year that would have resolved both cases.

The gun charges carry a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.

However, first-time offenders typically face far less time under sentencing guidelines, and it is unclear whether the judge would impose a jail term at all in the event of a conviction.