Joe Biden Says He Would Not Have Run in 2024 If He Had Known of His Cancer
“Si j’avais su que je me sentais mal parce que j’avais un cancer, je ne me serais pas lancé,” Joe Biden told People magazine.
The former US president revealed in a magazine interview that he would not have sought a second term in 2024 if he had known his physical decline stemmed from metastatic prostate cancer. Biden received that diagnosis months after leaving office in 2025.
- Joe Biden stated he was unaware he had prostate cancer while serving as president.
- He was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer several months after his term ended in 2025.
- The former president turns 84 on November 20.
The disclosure comes ahead of the publication of his memoir about his time in the White House. Biden pointed to his poor performance in the June 2024 debate against Donald Trump as the catalyst that derailed his reelection bid, though he maintained that age itself was not an impediment to holding office.
“Tout d’abord, je pensais qu’il y aurait un autre débat, ce qui n’a pas été le cas,” Biden told People magazine. “Mais même s’il n’y a pas eu d’autre débat, cela ne m’a pas perturbé, car cela n’avait pas d’importance.”
The June 2024 debate intensified Democratic anxieties regarding his age and his ability to defeat Trump. Weeks later, Biden ended his campaign and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who secured the Democratic nomination before losing the general election to Trump.
“Je ne pense pas qu’un homme de 80 ans atteint d’un cancer devrait se présenter à la présidence,” Biden said.
Despite the diagnosis and the grueling campaign, Biden insisted he was fully capable of discharging his duties. He argued that his age provided valuable experience and established relationships with world leaders, stating he was the best-equipped person for the job.
Hunter Biden told the BBC in August that his father’s cancer had spread and caused significant pain. The younger Biden described the condition as very painful and invalidating.
Biden defended his decision to pardon his son following Hunter Biden’s 2024 federal firearms conviction and federal tax accusations. Hunter Biden acknowledged that the pardon damaged his father’s legacy, but the former president argued that Trump’s desire for retaliation made the action necessary.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.