Despite his diagnosis, the former president stated he is “feeling great.”
Joe Biden, the former U.S. president, made his first public appearance after announcing he has stage 4 prostate cancer. His office confirmed on May 18 that the 82-year-old had been diagnosed with an aggressive, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones.
Biden told reporters at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut on Friday, where he was attending his grandson’s graduation, that he was “feeling great” despite the diagnosis. He was accompanied by former First Lady Jill Biden.
Medical professionals have raised concerns about how such an advanced stage of cancer went undetected, noting that a Gleason score of 9 is usually identified through routine screenings. A spokesperson for Biden stated on Tuesday that the former president had not been tested for the disease in over a decade, adding that his last known PSA test was in 2014, and he had never received a prostate cancer diagnosis until recently.
President Donald Trump alleged that Biden’s staff exploited his condition to promote unauthorized policies, labeling it “treason at the highest level.” Vice President J.D. Vance questioned Biden’s ability to lead, stating, “I don’t think he was able to do a good job for the American people.”
Republican Senators Ron Johnson and John Cornyn have called for investigations into whether Biden’s condition was hidden during his time in office. Johnson informed Axios that he intends to seek testimony from a “couple dozen people” who had or should have had “direct contact” with Biden. Cornyn released a letter to US Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting an investigation into whether the public was intentionally misled.
The revelation coincides with the release of a new book, ‘Original Sin’, which claims that Biden’s staff concealed evidence of cognitive decline during his presidency. The report has reignited criticism of his decision to run in 2024, which he abandoned after a weak debate performance.
The former president has refuted claims of cognitive decline, stating: “there’s nothing to sustain that.” Separately, following the Democratic Party’s loss in the 2024 presidential election, Biden suggested he could have won had he remained in the race.
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