"So maybe THIS time it wasn’t a crack pipe" — Internet reacts as Hunter Biden's Malibu home burns down in LA fire

President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden's rental home in Malibu was reportedly burned down in the raging fire sweeping across Los Angeles from January 7. The Daily Mail published exclusive pictures of the burned-down house in a report on January 8, 2025. At the time of writing, it is unclear where Hunter Biden and his family were when their house burned down.

According to the publication, Biden lived in the home with his wife, Melissa Cohen, and their child. Hunter Biden reportedly rented the $4.2 million home, which overlooked the Pacific, for $15,800 a month. President Joe Biden earlier addressed the issue in a press conference regarding the California fire, saying:

"My son lives out here and his wife. They got a notification yesterday their home was probably burned to the ground. Today, it appears that maybe [it's] still standing, but I'm not sure."

The news of Hunter Biden's rental home burning down was met with mixed reviews on social media. One netizen referenced Biden's previous drug addiction, tweeting:

"Ok, so maybe THIS time it wasn’t a crack pipe."

Several people compared Hunter Biden's plight to the many others who lost their homes in the fire, adding that his house was only a rental.

"Well well, I’m sure that unlike many locals there he won’t have to worry about where he’ll be sleeping tonight," one user posted.

"That’s Hunters rental that he hasn’t paid rent on in months. He has been squatting at the WH with Daddy, on the taxpayers $," another user added.

"He rented it for 15k a month… funded by taxpayers," someone else commented.

Others wondered about his paintings, speculating if they were caught in the fire. Biden is an artist, with his works displayed in New York's Georges Bergès Gallery.

"How many millions of dollars in his priceless paintings were lost? Can he claim them?" one person questioned.

"All of his expensive artwork probably burned too," another person added.

"But what about his art? Were his paintings protected?" someone else asked.

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Hunter Biden was pardoned in December 2024

In December 2024, Hunter Biden received an "unconditional" pardon from his father, President Joe Biden, for all his crimes between 2014 and 2024. Hunter Biden faced two sentences after he admitted guilt on tax charges in September. He was also found guilty of "being an illegal drug user in possession of a gun" in June.

The president, who had previously stated that he would not give his son clemency, seemingly changed his mind, saying his son's sentences were a "miscarriage of justice."

"From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted," he added.

According to BBC, he also said that politics had marred the process. Furthermore, he hoped people would understand why he chose to pardon Hunter Biden as "a father and a President." He also said that his son has been sober for over five years.

Following his pardon, Hunter also issued a formal statement, saying his actions when he was an addict had been "exploited to publicly humiliate and shame" his family. He continued he would not take the pardon for granted and promised to devote his life to helping the "sick and suffering."

Biden's pardon came after Donald Trump won the election against Kamala Harris in November.

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In other news, the California fire rages on, destroying thousands of homes in the Pacific Palisades and killing five people so far. On January 8, another fire broke out in Hollywood Hills, prompting the LA police to order an immediate evacuation.

Celebrities like Eugene Levy of Schitt's Creek fame and Paris Hilton have lost their homes in the fire.