From Supportive to Skeptical: Trump’s Shifting Stance on Biden’s Cancer Battle
Initially, Donald Trump surprised many by offering unexpectedly supportive remarks following Joe Biden’s announcement of an aggressive cancer diagnosis. But by Monday, the former president’s tone took a sharp turn—questioning why the public wasn’t informed about Biden’s condition “a long time ago.”
Cancer That’s Spread to the Bones
The news that President Biden is fighting prostate cancer shocked the world. Though Biden has overcome cancer before, this time the diagnosis is more severe—an aggressive form that has already spread to his bones. How he will respond to treatment remains uncertain, but his team’s statement brought a glimmer of hope: “the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, allowing for effective management.”
Dr. William Dahut, Chief Scientific Officer at the American Cancer Society and a prostate cancer specialist, told the BBC that once cancer spreads to the bones, it’s “generally” considered incurable. However, he added that many patients still respond well to treatment and can live for many years with the disease.
Support — and Suspicion
While heartfelt messages poured in from across the political spectrum, some voices zeroed in on the timing of the announcement—especially Biden’s political opponents.
Among the loudest critics was Donald Trump Jr., who reshared a pointed post aimed at First Lady Jill Biden, a respected educator with a doctorate. The post questioned how Dr. Biden could have missed such a serious diagnosis, even hinting at “yet another coverup.”
Now, Donald Trump himself has joined those casting doubt on the timing and transparency of Biden’s cancer news—and he’s not holding back.
During a Monday press conference, Trump expressed surprise that the public had only just learned about the condition. “To get to stage 9, I think… if you look, it’s the same doctor who said Joe was cognitively fine,” Trump said. “Maybe it was the same doctor, and somebody is not telling the facts.”
Though he said he felt “badly” about Biden’s diagnosis, Trump urged the public to “try and find out what happened.”
The Truth About “Stage 9”
Technically, there’s no such thing as “stage 9” cancer. Biden’s official diagnosis refers to a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) prostate cancer with bone metastasis.
Experts believe Biden could have been living with the disease for years before it was revealed. Urologist Dr. David Shusterman told News Nation that while Biden has received top-tier healthcare and access to the world’s best experts, this kind of metastatic cancer usually takes years to develop.
“This is what I typically see in VA hospitals,” Shusterman explained. “A patient with no medical attention for 10 years comes to the ER with bone pain—and that’s when they discover metastatic prostate cancer.”
Trump Seizes the Moment
Despite calling the news “very sad,” Trump took the opportunity to tout his own health record. “I underwent a comprehensive physical, including cognitive tests. I’m proud to announce I aced it. Got them all right,” he said with a pointed glance at reporters. “If I didn’t, these people would be after me. It wouldn’t be a good situation.”
He pushed further, proposing that all presidential candidates should be required to take cognitive tests—a clear jab amid ongoing debates about age and fitness in the 2024 race, a controversy that ultimately saw Biden step down.
