WILMINGTON, Delaware — President Biden praised Hunter as the son went on trial Monday in federal court on gun charges.

“I am the president, but I am also a Dad,” the president said in a statement. “Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today.”

The president said of the trial and his son’s well-known problems with addiction, “Hunter’s resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he has brought to his recovery are inspiring to us.”

Hunter Biden arrived at the federal courthouse in Wilmington on Monday for jury selection, followed shortly by first lady Jill Biden, for the federal gun case against him. He has been charged with three felonies stemming from a firearm purchase in 2018 when he was, by his admission, addicted to crack. 

The charges involve lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the application used to screen firearms applicants when he said he was not a drug user, and illegally having the gun for 11 days.

He has pleaded not guilty and has argued he’s being unfairly targeted by the Justice Department.

• Dave Boyer contributed to this story, which is based in part on wire service reports.

• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.