EXCLUSIVE: Hunter Biden faces fresh cash-for-access questions after his art dealer – who claims to be the only person to know the identity of president’s son’s art buyers - is snapped wearing Camp David hat

  • George Berges was snapped in the cap on a friend's Instagram page
  • The pal who shared it - gossip columnist George Wayne - captioned it: 'Were you at Camp David last weekend with your artist Hunter Biden???!!!’
  • Was shared two days before Hunter's exhibition opened in SoHo 
  • Hunter and White House insist they don't know who'll be buying his paintings, which will go for up to $500,000
  • But Berges does, amid ongoing concerns the artworks could be used as potential leverage by those looking to influence the president  

Hunter Biden’s art dealer was photographed wearing a Camp David hat after Joe Biden visited the presidential retreat – sparking questions whether the controversial gallerist joined the first family there.

The picture was shared on Instagram - two days before Hunter’s long-anticipated exhibition made a surprise opening at Bergès gallery in SoHo on Saturday - by renowned gossip columnist and celebrity interviewer George Wayne, who claims to have introduced Hunter to the dealer, Georges Bergès.

‘GB shows up wearing a fabulous cap emblazoned with the Presidential seal and the words Camp David Presidential Retreat 46 all over it,’ Wayne wrote.

‘Say whaaa? Were you at Camp David last weekend with your artist Hunter Biden???!!!’

Though the writer is known for his tongue-in-cheek posts, a personal visit with the first family could prove a controversial move by the gallerist, who is under intense scrutiny amid fears that Hunter’s art sales could be a conduit for corrupt attempts to financially influence the Biden family.

Hunter Biden's art dealer Georges Berges, right, is pictured wearing a Camp David hat two days before the president's son's art exhibition opened

Hunter Biden's art dealer Georges Berges, right, is pictured wearing a Camp David hat two days before the president's son's art exhibition opened 

Gossip columnist George Wayne, left, shared the snap on his Instagram, sparking speculation over whether Berges had traveled to the presidential retreat

Gossip columnist George Wayne, left, shared the snap on his Instagram, sparking speculation over whether Berges had traveled to the presidential retreat 

The White House claims neither they nor Hunter will know the identity of any patrons – but the one man tasked with keeping that secret is Bergès.

Former White House ethics chiefs have slammed the arrangement saying it is wide open to abuse, especially after evidence emerged from Hunter’s abandoned laptop that he touted his powerful family connections in business deals with Chinese government-linked partners.

It is unclear how Bergès obtained his hat with a Camp David emblem. Joe Biden took a break to the president’s country residence in August, criticized because it came amid the fallout from the disastrous withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

By then he had spent 26 days at the Maryland retreat, and is likely to have visited again since, though he reportedly prefers to spend time with family in Delaware.

Wayne, famous for his saucy Vanity Fair column, star-studded contacts book and myriad celebrity interviews, chastised Bergès for claiming he was a ‘deep throat’ source for scurrilous stories about the gallerist and the president’s son.

Hunter, left with his father and the White House claim not to know who is buying his paintings, amid fears the sales could be used to try and gain influence within the White House

Hunter, left with his father and the White House claim not to know who is buying his paintings, amid fears the sales could be used to try and gain influence within the White House 

Hunter Artwork
Hunter painting

Hunter's paintings, two of which are pictured above, have been praised by experts, who say they could sell for up to $500,000 each, with the artist's connection to the president further boosting their value 

‘He’s one of GW’s closest friends-Georges Berges-the most talked about Art Dealer in the world as we speak. But we fight like cats and dogs,’ the writer commented on the photo.

‘Better yet-like Felix Unger & Oscar Madison the famous 70’s TV sit-com ‘The Odd Couple”. We fight because every time he’s ragged and dragged by right wing media {Daily Mail online / NY Post) GW gets accused of being “Leaker” “Deep Throat” to the press.’

‘When the arbiter conducted further reconnaissance and swanned by your gallery this afternoon there was a gaggle of paparazzi outside?!! And the gallery windows on West Broadway smothered with brown paper?!! What’s going on at the GBG [George Bergès Gallery]?! Is Hunter Biden’s much discussed solo show about to land in Gotham City??!!

‘He dashed for the nearest exit after that probe and parry!! Hmmmm…something special seems afoot for the art whirl crowd on West Broadway. And “Deepthroat” cannot confirm or deny-but there is something special brewing.’

Wayne’s keen questions had indeed hit on a secret – as Hunter’s long-anticipated exhibition made a surprise opening at Bergès gallery in Soho on Saturday.

Biden, a Yale-educated lawyer, has had several different careers. He famously served on the board of Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, despite lacking any relevant experience, sparking criticism of him for using his father's position to boost his own wealth and influence

Hunter famously served on the board of Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, despite lacking any relevant experience, sparking criticism of him for using his father's position to boost his own wealth and influence 

A New York Post reporter spotted men carrying artwork into the building, and Hunter’s wife Melissa came to visit and embraced Bergès outside the building.

A caption on the wall next to one of Hunter’s pieces says the showing is titled ‘The Journey Home: a Hunter Biden Solo Exhibition’ and was followed by a quote by American author Joseph Campbell.

Viewings of the pieces at Georges Bergès Gallery on West Broadway are by appointment only and the exhibition did not appear to be listed on the gallery website Saturday.

However, a group exhibition that was previously slated to begin November 11 at the Soho space has been pushed back a week, suggesting Hunter’s exhibition will be at the gallery until November 18.

Earlier this month DailyMail.com exclusively revealed pictures of Hunter’s first exhibition: a private viewing to a ‘powerful’ crowd of potential buyers at Milk photography studios in Los Angeles.

It remains unclear if Berges stayed at Camp David, pictured, but the photo of the hat is set to raise eyebrows over Hunter's latest career choice

It remains unclear if Berges stayed at Camp David, pictured, but the photo of the hat is set to raise eyebrows over Hunter's latest career choice 

Guests at the event, which was policed by Secret Service officers in khaki, included Sugar Ray Leonard, Moby, LA mayor Eric Garcetti, and the artist behind the Obama 'hope' poster.

Other notable artist guests were British performer Millie Brown and LA-born Gary Baseman - famed for his ABC/Disney animated series Teachers Pet.

Despite Wayne’s probing questions of his gallerist friend, he poured praise on Hunter’s work likening him to David Hockney.

‘GW is always ready for the probe and parry! And is always inspired by the smartest and most ambitious souls who make me laugh and make me think! And the Berges is one of them,’ he wrote in a comment on his Instagram post.

‘He has to appreciate and respect this arbiter! Why? Because I was the first to discover him 7 years ago! And dubbed him “the next Leo Castelli” way back when he was a nobody !! I put him on the map!! Because I knew way back then that he was a brilliant disruptor! Art whirl force majeure!

‘So yes- we fight- but kudos to his temerity and by the way! Hunter Biden’s work is very very good!! He’s devised his own signature and narrative! Let’s just say he’s more David Hockney than Peter Max.’

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