At first, Donald Trump responded to Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis with an uncharacteristic note of sympathy. But by Monday, the former president had shifted gears — casting doubt on the severity and timing of the revelation in a series of eyebrow-raising remarks.
A Shocking Diagnosis
President Joe Biden’s announcement that he’s battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer stunned the nation. While Biden has faced health challenges before, this time the cancer has metastasized to his bones — a serious development.
His medical team reassured the public that the cancer is hormone-sensitive, making it more manageable with current treatments. Still, the prognosis raised alarm.
Dr. William Dahut, Chief Scientific Officer of the American Cancer Society, told the BBC that once prostate cancer spreads to the bones, it’s generally no longer considered curable. However, he emphasized that patients often respond well to treatment and can live for many years after diagnosis.
Support — and Skepticism
Messages of support poured in from around the world, but not everyone stayed focused on empathy. Political critics, including members of the Trump family, quickly shifted the conversation toward suspicion.
Donald Trump Jr. reignited controversy by reposting a message targeting First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, questioning how she could have missed such a serious health issue and suggesting it might be “another coverup.”
Now, Donald Trump himself has joined the chorus of skeptics, using a press conference to question the transparency of Biden’s medical disclosure.
“Why Weren’t We Told Sooner?”
“I was surprised we didn’t hear about this a long time ago,” Trump said, before launching into a tirade questioning Biden’s medical team. “I think to get to stage 9 — if you look, it’s the same doctor who said Joe was cognitively fine. Somebody’s not telling the truth.”
While “stage 9” cancer doesn’t exist in medical terms, Trump appeared to confuse the Gleason score of 9 — a classification for aggressive prostate cancer — with a nonexistent cancer stage.
He added, “I feel badly about it, I really do. But I think people deserve to know what happened.”
Medical Insight
Experts believe Biden may have had the disease for some time. Urologist Dr. David Shusterman told News Nation that such cancer often develops slowly, potentially taking years to reach this stage. However, he emphasized that Biden likely received top-tier care throughout his presidency.
“This is something we typically see in veterans’ hospitals when someone hasn’t had medical care in years,” said Shusterman. “But Biden had access to the best.”
Trump Turns Focus to Himself
Despite labeling Biden’s diagnosis as “very sad,” Trump used the opportunity to tout his own health. “I just had a comprehensive physical and cognitive test — and I aced it,” he said proudly. “If I didn’t, you people [in the media] would be all over me.”
He then pivoted to politics, suggesting cognitive tests should be mandatory for presidential candidates — a pointed jab amid mounting questions over age and fitness in the 2024 race, which ultimately saw Biden exit the contest.
