Even the New York Times is now skeptical of the White House's Hunter Biden defense

The mounting evidence that Joe Biden was involved in his son Hunter's overseas business deals is so compelling even The New York Times is questioning the president's constant denials.

The Gray Lady's White House Correspondent Peter Baker said Wednesday night the administration's argument that Biden had nothing to do with his son's foreign dealings is becoming 'harder to make.'

He said Biden could previously frame the scandals as his son overcoming addiction - like he did during the 2020 campaign.

But he insisted that's now changed - and the White House can no longer use the 'wayward son' defense with more allegations coming out, and with his son facing further charges after the sensational unraveling of his plea agreement.

It comes just days before Hunter's former business partner Devon Archer is set to testify in Congress that Joe was on speakerphone when his son was conducting business.

Baker's comments to MSNBC came hours after Hunter Biden's 'sweetheart' agreement dramatically fell apart, leaving him open to charges over the millions in income he received doing business with China and Ukraine.

New York Times White House Correspondent Peter Baker said Wednesday night the administration's argument that Biden had nothing to do with his son's foreign dealings is becoming 'harder to make.'

It is also a sign that the tide is turning with the networks and publications that mostly fawn over Biden in their coverage. 

Once the First Son found out the deal did not promise blanket immunity for his other foreign business dealings, he reversed course, pleaded 'not guilty,' and left the courtroom without a deal on the table.

Joe Biden and his team have maintained that he was not aware and, more importantly, not involved in his son's lucrative foreign business – and his communications team has repeatedly brushed off questions regarding whether the President's influence helped enrich his family. 

They have also subtly changed their story. First, Biden and aides said he never spoke to Hunter about the foreign deals.

Then, they said he was never 'in business'  with his troubled son.

Baker suggested that Biden's remarks about his son are now so far-fetched that they remind him of lies former president Donald Trump has spouted.

And Trump's comments, Baker pointed out, have made it so many wouldn't want to see him in the White House again in 2024.

During the 2020 general debate with Biden, Trump accused Hunter of 'making a fortune' in Ukraine and China.

'That is simply not true,' the Democratic candidate shot back at the time. 'My son, like a lot of people you know at home, had a drug problem. He's overtaken it. He's fixed it. He's worked on it. And I'm proud of him. I'm proud of my son.'

However, developments in the multiple cases against Hunter reveal that he made at least tens of millions from foreign business deals with multiple countries.

He received wire transfers from at least China, Ukraine and Romania.

Baker's comments to MSNBC came hours after Hunter Biden's 'sweetheart' plea deal dramatically fell apart, leaving him open to charges over the millions he received from China and Ukraine 

Biden has maintained he was never involved in his son's business deals. The pair are pictured together last month

Baker said when Biden was a candidate, he could 'frame it successfully in 2020' as a success story of his adult son overcoming drug addiction.

'I think now of course it's been a few years since then, more information has come out, more allegations have been made,' he said in the MSNBC interview on Wednesday. 'Many of which of course have not yet been proven or confirmed.'

The New York Time correspondent added: 'I think that narrative is a little harder to make right now, and so for President Biden, it's not just about a wayward son, but about whether or not he himself had something to do with his wayward son's business dealings, and that's still an open question.'

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has repeatedly claimed that he has evidence of Biden's involvement in his son's business dealings.

The White House has also remained silent on Hunter Biden since it was revealed last month that he reached a 'sweetheart' deal with federal prosecutors.

But the agreement that spectacularly unraveled on Wednesday now puts the president in the library.