APUS President Donald Trump on Monday said he was "surprised" the American public hadn’t been told sooner about Joe Biden’s advanced prostate cancer diagnosis, stoking speculation over a potential cover-up.
"I'm surprised that the public wasn't notified a long time ago," Trump said in the Oval Office, following reports that his predecessor was battling an aggressive form of the disease. He added, "It takes a long time to get to that situation, to get to a stage nine," referring to Biden’s Gleason score of 9, Grade Group 5 — one of the most severe categories on the prostate cancer scale.
The Gleason scoring system, used to assess how abnormal cancer cells appear, ranges from 6 to 10. A score of 9 indicates rapid growth and the potential for the disease to spread, which Biden’s office confirmed had already metastasised to the bone.
He recalled undergoing his own recent physical, where prostate cancer screening was conducted as standard procedure, and highlighted discrepancies in Biden’s medical oversight. "The other thing you have to say is why did it take so long?" Trump questioned. "I think people should try and find out what happened... Maybe it was the same doctor and somebody is not telling the facts… That’s a big problem."
Trump’s remarks followed a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which he discussed the Ukraine conflict. But his focus shifted quickly when asked about Biden’s health, calling it “very sad, actually.”
Vice President JD Vance also questioned the lack of transparency: "Why didn’t the American people have a better sense of his health picture? Why didn’t the American people have more accurate information about what he was actually dealing with?"
Vance added, “In some ways, I blame him less than I blame the people around him.”
Former White House physician and Congressman Ronny Jackson went further, accusing Biden’s medical team of prioritising politics over care. “Unbelievable this was missed,” he wrote on social media. “The truth is [Biden’s] physician was more concerned about assisting with the political cover-up than providing world-class medical care.”
Right-wing commentator Benny Johnson called the situation "the most dangerous cover-up in the history of the presidency."
Not all criticism has gone unchallenged. Congressman Greg Murphy, a Republican and practising urologist, cautioned against assumptions, tweeting: “While I believe Biden’s declining mental acuity was covered up, it is medically reckless to assume his prostate cancer was as well.” He explained that basic screenings sometimes miss cancer, and more advanced diagnostics are required.
Jonathan Waxman, an oncology professor at Imperial College London, suggested the disease may have developed rapidly, noting that “aggressive” prostate cancers can sometimes be difficult to track in time.
Meanwhile, Biden’s office has confirmed the diagnosis came after a “small nodule” was found earlier this month, leading to further testing. The cancer was described as “hormone-sensitive,” which often responds to initial treatments but can be difficult to control once it spreads to the bones.
As speculation intensified, Biden posted a photo on X alongside his wife, Jill Biden, with the message: “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
The statement, quoting Ernest Hemingway, struck a personal chord. Biden’s eldest son, Beau, died from brain cancer in 2015, an event that shaped much of his public narrative around illness and grief.
But for critics, the timing of Biden’s announcement—just days ahead of the release of Original Sin, a new book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson detailing alleged cover-ups surrounding Biden’s health—raises questions. Among the book’s claims are that White House aides discussed the possibility of Biden needing a wheelchair during the campaign trail.
As Biden’s health continues to dominate headlines, public trust in the transparency of presidential medical disclosures remains under strain. Whether this is a case of poor communication, rapid disease progression, or deliberate concealment, the issue has become a flashpoint in American politics.
For Trump, who returned to the White House after defeating Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, it’s also a sharp political weapon. “Very dangerous,” he warned again on Monday. “Somebody is not telling the facts.”
"I'm surprised that the public wasn't notified a long time ago," Trump said in the Oval Office, following reports that his predecessor was battling an aggressive form of the disease. He added, "It takes a long time to get to that situation, to get to a stage nine," referring to Biden’s Gleason score of 9, Grade Group 5 — one of the most severe categories on the prostate cancer scale.
The Gleason scoring system, used to assess how abnormal cancer cells appear, ranges from 6 to 10. A score of 9 indicates rapid growth and the potential for the disease to spread, which Biden’s office confirmed had already metastasised to the bone.
‘Things going on that the public wasn’t Informed of’
Trump didn’t stop at expressing surprise. He pointed to what he called a pattern of concealment, particularly regarding Biden’s cognitive health during his presidency. "If you take a look, it's the same doctor that said Joe was cognitively fine. There are things going on that the public wasn't informed of," he said.He recalled undergoing his own recent physical, where prostate cancer screening was conducted as standard procedure, and highlighted discrepancies in Biden’s medical oversight. "The other thing you have to say is why did it take so long?" Trump questioned. "I think people should try and find out what happened... Maybe it was the same doctor and somebody is not telling the facts… That’s a big problem."
Trump’s remarks followed a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which he discussed the Ukraine conflict. But his focus shifted quickly when asked about Biden’s health, calling it “very sad, actually.”
A growing chorus of Republican criticism
Trump is not alone in suggesting that the diagnosis may have been kept from the public for political reasons. His son, Donald Trump Jr., reposted a 2022 clip where Biden, referencing oil spills in Delaware, said, "I, and so damn many other people I grew up with, have cancer." Trump Jr. framed the comment as part of a larger deception.Vice President JD Vance also questioned the lack of transparency: "Why didn’t the American people have a better sense of his health picture? Why didn’t the American people have more accurate information about what he was actually dealing with?"
Vance added, “In some ways, I blame him less than I blame the people around him.”
Former White House physician and Congressman Ronny Jackson went further, accusing Biden’s medical team of prioritising politics over care. “Unbelievable this was missed,” he wrote on social media. “The truth is [Biden’s] physician was more concerned about assisting with the political cover-up than providing world-class medical care.”
Right-wing commentator Benny Johnson called the situation "the most dangerous cover-up in the history of the presidency."
Not all criticism has gone unchallenged. Congressman Greg Murphy, a Republican and practising urologist, cautioned against assumptions, tweeting: “While I believe Biden’s declining mental acuity was covered up, it is medically reckless to assume his prostate cancer was as well.” He explained that basic screenings sometimes miss cancer, and more advanced diagnostics are required.
Jonathan Waxman, an oncology professor at Imperial College London, suggested the disease may have developed rapidly, noting that “aggressive” prostate cancers can sometimes be difficult to track in time.
Meanwhile, Biden’s office has confirmed the diagnosis came after a “small nodule” was found earlier this month, leading to further testing. The cancer was described as “hormone-sensitive,” which often responds to initial treatments but can be difficult to control once it spreads to the bones.
Political fallout and public response
Biden, who withdrew from the 2024 presidential race after a poor debate performance, had faced mounting scrutiny over his health long before the diagnosis was made public. That debate raised concerns about his mental acuity, particularly after several high-profile gaffes.As speculation intensified, Biden posted a photo on X alongside his wife, Jill Biden, with the message: “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
The statement, quoting Ernest Hemingway, struck a personal chord. Biden’s eldest son, Beau, died from brain cancer in 2015, an event that shaped much of his public narrative around illness and grief.
But for critics, the timing of Biden’s announcement—just days ahead of the release of Original Sin, a new book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson detailing alleged cover-ups surrounding Biden’s health—raises questions. Among the book’s claims are that White House aides discussed the possibility of Biden needing a wheelchair during the campaign trail.
As Biden’s health continues to dominate headlines, public trust in the transparency of presidential medical disclosures remains under strain. Whether this is a case of poor communication, rapid disease progression, or deliberate concealment, the issue has become a flashpoint in American politics.
For Trump, who returned to the White House after defeating Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, it’s also a sharp political weapon. “Very dangerous,” he warned again on Monday. “Somebody is not telling the facts.”
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