Former United States first lady Jill Biden said that her husband, former president Joe Biden, probably would not have been able to serve a second presidential term after being diagnosed with advanced-stage prostate cancer.
The statement was made during an interview on the TV programme The View. Asked whether Biden would have been able to remain in the White House for another four years, Jill said her assessment had changed in light of what is now known about her husband’s health.
“Not with what I know now. Who knew? It was so shocking to receive a cancer diagnosis,” Dr Biden explained. During the interview, Jill revealed that Joe’s cancer is at Stage IV and has spread to his bones.
Despite the seriousness of the illness, she said the former president remains active, travelling regularly, attending political events and working on writing projects. “He’s doing well,” she emphasised.
The former first lady also criticised medical guidelines that advise against prostate cancer screening for men over the age of 70. According to her, the couple had annual check-ups and were surprised to discover the disease at an advanced stage.
“That has to change. All of you men, I’m telling you, you need to pay attention to your health. If you’re having a problem, don’t just say, ‘Oh, I’ll look into that later.’ Do something about it. That’s my personal advice. Your body is telling you something.”
The comments came amid the release of Jill Biden’s new memoir, View from the East Wing, and renewed the debate over the former president’s health. Biden withdrew from the 2024 re-election race after a widely criticised performance in an election debate.
In the interview, Jill also said that no doctor or adviser had warned the family about significant health problems before that episode. “When all Americans saw that moment on TV in the debate, I mean, I was scared because I thought: ‘Oh my God, he’s having a stroke.’”
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Photo and video: Public domain / YouTube @TheView. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
