Joe Biden says he would not have sought reelection in 2024 if he had been aware of his cancer, the former president told People magazine in an interview released Wednesday. Biden, diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer in May 2025, also played down the impact of his June 2024 debate performance against Donald Trump, which contributed to his exit from the Democratic ticket.
"If I had known that I was feeling lousy because I had cancer, I would have not gone forward because I don't think an 80-year-old man with cancer should be running," Biden said.
Biden announced the diagnosis in May 2025, four months after leaving the White House. The revelation sparked widespread public sympathy but also raised questions about why the cancer was not caught earlier and whether it may have contributed to his apparent decline toward the end of his term. President Donald Trump told reporters after the announcement: "I think it's very sad, actually. I'm surprised that it wasn't, you know, the public wasn't notified a long time ago because to get to [a Gleason score of] 9, that's a long time." Biden had not been screened for prostate cancer since 2014; US guidelines have long recommended men stop screening once they hit their 70s.
The former president described his weak June 2024 debate performance, which triggered mounting calls within his party for him to step aside, as "not very consequential." He said: "First of all, I thought there would be another debate, which there wasn't. But notwithstanding the fact that there wasn't another debate, it didn't disturb me because it wasn't consequential." His son Hunter has said he believes the cancer was responsible for the poor performance. Biden's memoir, "Promise Me, America," goes on sale next week. He wrote on X that the cancer meant he "won't be able to do as many conversations about my book as I'd hoped." But he told the magazine he still feels sharp: "I'm not saying I'll live forever, but the point is that, you know, I have all my faculties, I have access to all the things I had before and, you know, I feel good."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Biden's comments add a new dimension to the 2024 election, suggesting his health was a hidden factor in the campaign that ultimately saw Trump win a second term.
- The revelation raises accountability questions about presidential medical disclosure and whether the public was adequately informed about the former president's condition during the campaign.
- Biden's downplaying of the debate performance, even after his son linked it to cancer, may reignite debate about how seriously the party and media took signs of his decline.
Background
Biden served one term as president, from 2021 to 2025. He was widely expected to run for reelection in 2024, but a poor debate performance against Donald Trump in June 2024 led to mounting pressure from key Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, for him to withdraw. He exited the race in July 2024, paving the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic nominee. Trump won the election. In May 2025, four months after leaving office, Biden announced he had Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer.
Key Perspectives
Joe Biden: Said he would not have run if he had known about the cancer because an 80-year-old man with the disease should not be running. He downplayed the debate performance as "not very consequential."
Donald Trump: Expressed surprise that the public was not notified earlier and noted that reaching a Gleason score of 9 takes a long time.
Hunter Biden: Has said he believes the cancer was responsible for his father's poor debate performance.
What to Watch
- Whether the memoir's release sparks further discussion about Biden's health and the decision to run.
- Any response from the medical community or ethics experts on the timing of the cancer diagnosis and public disclosure.
- Possible renewed calls for independent medical evaluations of presidential candidates or incumbents.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedBiden says he would not have run for re-election in 2024 if he had known about his cancer.Politics: “Former President Joe Biden would not have run for reelection in 2024 if he had known about his cancer, he said”
- Partly supportedBiden described his debate performance as “not very consequential” in the People interview.Politics: ““To me, it was not very consequential,” he said.”
- SupportedThe People interview was released Wednesday.Politics: “he said in an interview released Wednesday”
- Partly supportedBiden was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer in May 2025.Politics: “The former president announced his diagnosis — Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer — in May 2025”
- SupportedBiden said he would not have gone forward with running if he had known he had cancer.Politics: “"If I had known that I was feeling lousy because I had cancer, I would have not gone forward because I don't think an 80-year-old man with cancer should be running," he said”
- SupportedBiden’s June 2024 debate performance contributed to his exit from the Democratic ticket.Politics: “Biden also downplayed his poor June 2024 debate performance against Trump that contributed to his exit from the Democratic ticket a month later.”
- SupportedTrump told reporters after Biden’s announcement that he was surprised the public had not been notified sooner, and referred to a Gleason score of 9.Politics: ““I think it’s very sad, actually. I’m surprised that it wasn’t, you know, the public wasn’t notified a long time ago because to get to [a Gleason score of] 9, that’s a long time,” President Donald Trump told reporters shortly after Biden’s announcement.”
- SupportedBiden had not been screened for prostate cancer since 2014.Politics: “Prior to his diagnosis, Biden hadn’t been screened for prostate cancer since 2014 .”
- SupportedHunter Biden has said he believes the cancer was responsible for his father’s debate performance.Politics: “Biden’s son, Hunter, has said he believes the cancer was responsible for the performance.”
- SupportedBiden wrote on X that cancer meant he “won’t be able to do as many conversations about my book as I’d hoped.”Politics: “Biden wrote Sunday on X that the cancer meant he “won’t be able to do as many conversations about my book as I’d hoped.””
- SupportedBiden’s memoir, “Promise Me, America,” goes on sale next week.Politics: “The former president’s memoir , “Promise Me, America,” will go on sale next week.”
- SupportedBiden told People he has all his faculties, has access to what he had before, and feels good.Politics: ““I’m not saying I’ll live forever, but the point is that, you know, I have all my faculties, I have access to all the things I had before and, you know, I feel good,” he said.”