Did Biden force his daughter to shower with him

Checked on December 15, 2025
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Executive summary

Claims that President Joe Biden “forced his daughter to shower with him” originate from pages of a purported Ashley Biden diary circulated online that include a line saying showers with her father were “probably not appropriate.” Reporting shows the diary was obtained and published by right‑wing outlets, Project Veritas paid for a copy, and Snopes later described the diary excerpt as authentic while noting provenance questions [1] [2] [3].

1. What the diary excerpt actually says — and where it came from

The central text cited by critics is an alleged diary entry in which Ashley Biden wrote that showers with her father were “probably not appropriate.” That entry first circulated after a purported “stolen diary” surfaced in 2020 and was later published by conservative outlets; Project Veritas reportedly paid $40,000 for the document and sources say it came into others’ hands after someone moved into an apartment formerly occupied by Ashley Biden [1] [2].

2. How fact‑checkers framed the material

Snopes investigated the leaked diary and described the passage about showers with her father as present in the diary; Snopes’ coverage notes authenticity of the text while also explaining the chain of custody and publication history that raised questions about how it was obtained and released [1]. Media summarizing of Snopes’ follow‑up has been used by some outlets to assert the diary’s contents are “true,” which has in turn fueled stronger claims [3] [2].

3. What the sources do — and do not — actually allege

Available reporting shows Ashley Biden’s diary contains her own words characterizing childhood showers with her father as “probably not appropriate,” but the documents and news items in the provided sources do not include a legal accusation that Joe Biden “forced” her to shower with him nor do they document an independent investigation substantiating criminal conduct [1] [2]. The sources describe the diary’s contents and the controversy around its publication rather than presenting confirmed criminal findings [1].

4. Chain of custody, motives and media incentives

The diary’s provenance—how it was found, who sold it, and why—became part of the story: Project Veritas purchased a copy and conservative publishers drove distribution ahead of the 2020 election cycle, which raises clear incentives for political actors and media outlets to amplify damaging material [1] [2]. Commentators in outlets like the California Globe framed Snopes’ reassessment as proof of a suppressed scandal, but that interpretation reflects partisan agendas in media amplification rather than new independent evidence in the public record [3].

5. Competing narratives and why they diverge

One narrative treats the diary passage as confirmation of an abuse allegation, using Snopes’ authenticity note as validation; an opposing view emphasizes gaps in provenance and cautions about a document that was circulated and monetized by partisan actors, arguing the context and chain of custody undermine reliability [3] [1] [2]. Both narratives draw on the same underlying facts: the diary excerpt exists in published form and its release was politically consequential [1] [2].

6. What the sources do not show — the limits of available reporting

The supplied reporting does not present police reports, court filings, or independent investigative findings that prove Joe Biden forced his daughter to shower with him. Available sources do not mention any criminal charge, adjudication, or contemporaneous law‑enforcement documentation of coercion tied to this diary passage [1] [2]. Claims that go beyond the diary’s wording — for example, asserting coercion or a criminal act by Joe Biden — are not supported in the current reporting.

7. What readers should watch for next

Further clarity would require verifiable provenance, statements from Ashley Biden beyond what is published in the excerpt, or corroborating investigative reporting or official records. Given the political value of the material and the involvement of partisan actors in its purchase and publication, readers should weigh source motives and seek corroboration from independent, documented reporting before accepting stronger allegations [1] [2] [3].

Want to dive deeper?
What evidence exists regarding claims that Joe Biden forced his daughter to shower with him?
How have fact-checkers evaluated allegations about Biden and family privacy?
Have credible news organizations reported on inappropriate conduct by Joe Biden toward his children?
What are the legal and ethical standards for investigating alleged misconduct by public figures with family members?
How have Republican and Democratic politicians and media outlets responded to these allegations since 2020?