Former U.S. president Joe Biden is facing a worsening cancer diagnosis, his son Hunter Biden said in an interview with the BBC, describing the disease as having spread beyond the prostate and into other parts of the body.
Family speaks publicly about progression
Hunter Biden said the illness has metastasized and is causing significant pain and debilitation for the 83‑year‑old former president, who continues to speak publicly about issues important to him. The interview, which the son characterised as emotional, offered one of the clearest family statements on Mr. Biden’s condition since he disclosed the diagnosis in May 2025.
"The cancer has spread, metastasized into his bones and further," Hunter Biden said. "It's very painful and it's very debilitating in many respects."
The son said watching his father suffer has been difficult for the family and added, with a mixture of concern and candour, that he wished his father would complain more because "it's not good." He also emphasised that the former president remains active in public life, saying, "He's still doing his thing. He so believes in this country."
Political context and recent history
Mr. Biden, who served one term as president and left office at age 83, revealed his cancer diagnosis in May 2025, less than four months after leaving the White House. His health and age were persistent topics of debate during his time in office, and critics have accused him and aides of downplaying or obscuring aspects of his condition. Those critiques intensified after Mr. Biden suspended a re‑election bid following a poorly received debate with his successor, Donald Trump.
Hunter Biden addressed some of those controversies in the BBC conversation, though his principal focus was his father's present condition and the emotional toll on family members. The interview also came as the former president plans to remain engaged in public discussion and is preparing a memoir, titled Promise Me, America, scheduled for publication after the U.S. midterm elections.
Immediate implications
Public confirmation from a close family member that a cancer has metastasized adds a new dimension to the post‑presidential narrative of a high‑profile political figure. While Mr. Biden has continued to make public statements, the progression of a metastatic cancer raises questions about future travel, speaking engagements and the degree of public activity the former president can sustain.
Observers and political actors will likely watch for further medical updates or official statements from the former president's camp. For now, the account from Hunter Biden offers one of the most specific family disclosures about the nature and severity of the illness.
What we know
- Diagnosis disclosed: Joe Biden revealed his prostate cancer diagnosis in May 2025.
- Progression reported: Hunter Biden told the BBC the cancer has metastasized into bones and beyond.
- Current activity: The former president continues to speak publicly, and a memoir is due after the midterms.
| Detail | Known information |
|---|---|
| Age | 83 |
| Disclosure of diagnosis | May 2025 |
| Memoir | "Promise Me, America" — to be published after midterm elections |
The comments from Hunter Biden were carried by the Associated Press and reported by international outlets. There has been no new medical briefing released by the former president's office as of the interview. Given the sensitivity and potential political consequences of a high‑profile illness, further official clarity can be expected to follow as the family and advisers weigh public disclosure with privacy and medical considerations.
For Canadian readers, developments in the health of a former U.S. president can influence political discourse and media coverage on both sides of the border, particularly ahead of major electoral events and as world leaders consider the engagement schedules of their American counterpart or counterparts.
