Former President Joe Biden stated that he would not have sought reelection in 2024 had he been aware of his Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer diagnosis at the time. In an interview with People magazine released Wednesday, Biden asserted that an 80-year-old man battling cancer should not run for office. The comments come ahead of the release of his memoir, "Promise Me, America," and following recent Democratic successes in the midterm elections.
Biden announced his diagnosis in May 2025, four months after leaving the White House. The disclosure sparked public support but also scrutiny regarding why the cancer was not detected earlier, given that he had not been screened for prostate cancer since 2014. Current U.S. guidelines generally do not recommend screening for men over age 70, though Biden’s condition had progressed to a Gleason score of 9, indicating advanced disease.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative critics, including President Donald Trump, have seized on the late diagnosis to question the transparency and medical oversight of the previous administration. Trump stated shortly after Biden’s announcement that he was surprised the public was not notified earlier, noting that reaching a Gleason score of 9 takes a long time. Republicans have used the timeline to argue that the Democratic party was aware of, or should have been aware of, Biden’s declining health well before the 2024 election cycle.
Right-leaning commentators have maintained that the debate performance was indeed consequential, serving as the primary catalyst for Biden’s withdrawal. They argue that the cancer diagnosis, while serious, does not erase the visible struggles Biden displayed on the debate stage, which many voters cited as their reason for losing confidence in his candidacy. Critics on the right have also pointed to the gap in medical screenings as a failure of accountability.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive commentators and Biden’s allies have largely framed his decision to withdraw in 2024 as an act of selflessness and clarity, now contextualized by the cancer diagnosis. Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, has previously stated his belief that the cancer contributed to his father’s diminished performance during the June 2024 debate against Donald Trump. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders, who urged Biden to exit the race following that debate, have pointed to the diagnosis as validation of their concerns about his health and capacity.
In the interview, Biden sought to downplay the impact of the debate performance, calling it "not very consequential" and noting that he had anticipated another debate. He emphasized that his faculties remain intact, stating, "I have all my faculties, I have access to all the things I had before... I feel good." Democratic supporters have used this narrative to counter earlier criticisms of his mental acuity, arguing that his health issues were medical rather than cognitive failures.
What the Numbers Show
Biden was 81 years old during the 2024 election cycle. His cancer was diagnosed as Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer, with a Gleason score of 9, which is considered high-grade and aggressive. The former president had not undergone a prostate cancer screening since 2014, a decade before his diagnosis. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines have long recommended against routine screening for men aged 70 and older due to potential harms outweighing benefits, though individual medical decisions vary.
Biden withdrew from the race in July 2024, approximately one month after the June 27 debate with Trump. His memoir, "Promise Me, America," is scheduled for release next week. In a post on X, Biden noted that the cancer would limit his ability to participate in promotional conversations for the book. The interview was conducted last week, following the November 2026 midterm elections, in which Democrats achieved significant wins.
The Bottom Line
Biden’s retrospective comments reshape the historical narrative of the 2024 election, offering a medical explanation for his campaign decisions that was not publicly known during the race. This new context may influence future political discussions about age, health, and transparency in presidential campaigns. The release of his memoir will likely provide further details on the internal decision-making process at the White House regarding his health. Observers will watch for how this information impacts the ongoing debate about age limits and health disclosures for future candidates.