Cancer Spread and Family's Reaction
Former US President Joe Biden's prostate cancer has spread to other parts of his body and is causing him pain, his son Hunter Biden said in an interview with the BBC broadcast late Friday. Hunter grew emotional as he discussed his father's condition, describing it as very sad to watch. "The cancer has spread, metastasized into his bones and further," he said. "It's very painful and it's very debilitating in many respects."[S1][S2][S3]
Hunter Biden said the diagnosis had been tough on the family. "It's really sad to watch," he said. "The only thing that I'd say about my dad, about his health right now, is I wish he would complain more, because it's not good." Despite his condition, Hunter said his father remains "out there," speaking publicly about issues important to him. "He's still doing his thing," he said. "He so believes in this country."[S1][S2][S3]
Background and Public Scrutiny
Biden, 83, was the oldest man to serve as US president, and his age was a source of concern for much of his four years in office. He and his White House advisers have faced intense criticism for allegedly concealing the extent of his problems, especially after he was forced to abandon his bid for re-election after a disastrous debate with his eventual successor, Donald Trump. The former president revealed his cancer diagnosis in May of last year, less than four months after he left the White House.[S1][S2][S5]
Hunter also revisited the June 2024 presidential debate against Trump, a performance that intensified concerns about Biden's age and fitness for office. "I was shocked. I knew something was wrong," Hunter said. He attributed his father's poor performance in part to physical exhaustion from extensive travel. Hunter also questioned whether the cancer diagnosed the following year might already have been affecting his father at that time.[S3]
Pardon and Personal Reflections
Hunter addressed the sweeping presidential pardon his father granted him shortly before leaving office. He acknowledged that the decision was "unfair" to the American public, while defending his father's personal choice. "What would you think about my dad if he didn't do it for me?" he asked. Joe Biden pardoned his son in two federal cases less than two months before leaving the White House.[S3]
Hunter also spoke candidly about his addiction, saying that at one stage he was drinking nearly four liters of vodka a day and smoking crack cocaine approximately every 15 minutes. "It was hell on Earth," he said. Hunter ruled out following his father into politics, instead wanting to help others struggling with addiction. Joe Biden is expected to publish a memoir titled "Promise Me, America" after the midterm elections.[S3][S1][S4]
