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Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an "aggressive" form of prostate cancer, his office announced Sunday, sparking immediate reactions and political fallout. The 82-year-old, who left office in January, had previously faced scrutiny regarding his age and health during his presidency, culminating in the end of his re-election bid following a widely criticized debate performance last June.
The announcement prompted a wave of responses from political figures across the spectrum. Democratic lawmakers, who appeared on Sunday news programs, faced intense questioning about the timing of the diagnosis and whether the party should have intervened earlier to dissuade Biden from seeking re-election. Some, like Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy and California Rep. Ro Khanna, who had previously supported Biden, expressed regret, suggesting that the party should have urged him to step aside sooner. They stopped short, however, of accusing Biden's inner circle of a deliberate "cover-up."
Rep. Khanna, upon hearing the news, posted on X, "Praying for @JoeBiden and his family to defeat the cancer heâs recently been diagnosed with. He and Jill have always been fighters and I am confident they will meet this challenge with grit and grace."
Compassionate messages also came from across the aisle. Meghan McCain, whose father, the late Sen. John McCain, succumbed to brain cancer, stated, "Cancer is the absolute worst. It is hell. It is incredibly difficult for any family, anywhere that has to deal with it. Wishing nothing but healing, prayers, light and strength to President Biden and his family. I donât believe times like these are appropriate for politics." Similarly, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene offered her condolences, sharing her personal experience with cancer and extending prayers to Biden and his family.
Biden's commitment to cancer research was a significant focus during his later political career, particularly after the death of his son, Beau, from brain cancer in 2015. As president, he spearheaded the "Cancer Moonshot" initiative, aimed at accelerating progress in cancer treatment and prevention. Prostate cancer, the diagnosis now facing Biden, is one of the most common cancers among men, especially in older age groups. The diagnosis has now added another layer of complexity to the post-presidential period.
