Biden says he would not have sought a second term had he known about cancer
The former president, who turns 84 on Nov. 20, made the remarks in an interview with People magazine before his memoir's release.
Former President Joe Biden said he did not know he had cancer while in office and would not have run for a second term in 2024 had he known. He said that if he had been diagnosed, he would not have gone forward with the reelection bid that ended after a debate against Donald Trump. Biden was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer months after leaving office in 2025. He said he did not think an 80-year-old man with cancer should run for president. He also argued the June 2024 debate was not consequential, even though it increased Democrats' concerns about his age. Biden said he was the best-equipped person for the job and that age alone was not disqualifying. He also defended his decision to pardon his son Hunter, whom he said Trump would have targeted. His comments came before the release of his White House memoir on Tuesday.
Hunter Biden told the BBC in August that the cancer had spread and was causing his father pain.
Key points
- Biden says he did not know he had cancer while president.
- He says he would not have sought reelection had he known.
- He was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in 2025.
- His memoir was released Tuesday.
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Summarized with AI from the sources above and reviewed before publishing.
