A Porn Star, A Drug Addict and Tax Evasion: America's First Families at War on Twitter

Over the last several years, Twitter has increasingly reflected the interests of American individuals, especially when it comes to politics. During the last few days, names of several members of US first families' have been trending on the social media network, for a number of reasons.

While America continues to live through a devastating COVID19 death toll, the anticipation of a vaccine, and a series of legal challenges amid the outgoing president's refusal to concede the results of elections, US Twitter is busy talking about Sasha Obama, Hunter Biden, Donald Trump Jr., and the upcoming first lady, Dr. Jill Biden.

Last week, an op-ed written by Joseph Epstein, the former editor of The American Scholar magazine inflamed social media users, as he called on the upcoming first lady to drop the "Dr." from her title, saying it "sounds and feels fraudulent, not to say a touch comic."

In their response, social media users attacked Epsiten's article and called it "misogynistic", arguing that unlike other people who "take pride in their honorary doctorates", Jill Biden has earned a PhD in Education from the University of Delaware in 2007.

Later, Hunter Biden's name became the talk of Twitter after news outlets revealed he is under investigation by a top federal prosecutor over his taxes. Biden's only living son has sparked a number of controversies lately, including his addiction to alcohol and drugs, one he personally had addressed before, in addition to a Fox News hint that he "might be involved in an investigation over pedophilic videos on his confiscated laptop", last October.

In retaliation, many supporters of the new president-elect took the chance to attack Donald Trump Jr, who has posted a number of videos himself, questioning the new first family and allegation against Hunter Biden over obstructing his father's former role as VP to seal a $1 billion deal with a Ukrainian company.

Twitter commentators said that Donald Jr. "didn't seem sober" and accused him of having a "history of alcoholism and drug addiction", saying that Trumps should be worried about him instead of "constantly attacking the Bidens".

Additionally, the name of Barack Obama's 19-year old daughter, Sasha, was featured on the trending list in the US, after a photo was published of her showing her belly button. Right-wing tweets associated the former first daughter with "porn stars" for her attire, saying that accusations are coming from the same people who supported the Trump administration, even though his wife was a fashion model "who was featured while naked on magazine covers before becoming the first lady".