Former President Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis has stunned the nation and momentarily quieted the thunderous echo chamber of partisan politics in Washington. On Sunday, Biden’s personal office confirmed that the 82-year-old statesman has been diagnosed with an aggressive, metastatic form of prostate cancer. According to the statement, the disease has already spread to his bones—a sign of its advanced progression.
When I used an elder law attorney for my parents (power of attorney, advanced directives, etc), we were in a rush because my dad’s dementia was advancing. He was also losing his ability to sign his name. The attorney took several months longer than expected. It was a nail-biter.… https://t.co/gcvAJGE5Hn
— Natalie Nichols (@NatalieGNichols) May 19, 2025
Doctors detected the cancer after Biden presented with increasing urinary symptoms. What began with the discovery of a prostate nodule swiftly escalated: by Friday, it was confirmed to be hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, which, though serious, opens the door to potentially effective treatment options such as hormone therapy and radiation. The family is now reviewing those options with medical professionals.
While the diagnosis underscores a grave personal health challenge for the former president, it also delivers a symbolic jolt to the American political landscape. Biden—who stepped back from the 2024 race after intense scrutiny over his cognitive decline—now faces a new chapter, one defined not by election battles, but by a very human struggle against a formidable disease.
They sabotaged Ed Martin’s appointment as U.S. Attorney for D.C. so President Trump made him Pardon Attorney instead. The sweet irony is that now he’s in a position to get to the bottom of who was really behind the autopen. By trying to bury him, they handed him the shovel. https://t.co/ox30iW3N28
— Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) May 19, 2025
The reaction from across the aisle was swift and unusually unified. President Donald Trump, whose rivalry with Biden has defined the last decade of American politics, offered a surprisingly gracious note:
“Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis… We wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Even Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, among Biden’s most vocal critics, struck a compassionate tone, referencing her own father’s battle with cancer and offering prayers to the Biden family.
Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden’s former running mate and partner in office, emphasized his long-standing resilience:
“Joe is a fighter… with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership.”
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, too, framed the diagnosis in the context of Biden’s long-standing fight against cancer—particularly through the Cancer Moonshot initiative launched after the death of his son, Beau Biden, from brain cancer in 2015:
“I’m thinking of the Bidens as they take on cancer, a disease they’ve done so much to try to spare other families from.”
Yet the diagnosis also lands at a delicate moment, one marked by increased scrutiny of Biden’s health and cognitive function. Audio released Friday by Axios from Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation revealed a faltering Biden, struggling with long pauses and memory lapses—including an inability to recall the date of his son Beau’s death. The publication of the book “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” is expected to further fuel that narrative.
The Hur Biden Interview – 4:24
I isolated the voices and cut out the background noise. It is clearer to listen to. pic.twitter.com/vXLVHoxY94
— 1776Patriot 🇺🇸🙏 (@letsgobrandonQ) May 17, 2025
CNN’s David Axelrod, a longtime Democratic strategist, urged his party to “mute” discussions about Biden’s past performance out of respect during his health crisis. But others, including Van Jones, have acknowledged the damage done by what he called a “massive cover-up” of Biden’s condition during his presidency—signaling a reckoning still ahead for party leadership.
One of the most powerful notes came from TJ Ducklo, a former Biden aide who has also faced metastatic cancer:
“No one in America is stronger than Joe Biden… Betting against Biden has never been and still remains a bad [expletive] bet.”
