Biden Team Rejects Claims of Delayed Prostate Cancer Disclosure

Former US President Joe Biden’s office has firmly denied allegations that his recent prostate cancer diagnosis was known earlier, responding to skepticism raised by President Donald Trump. The statement, issued on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, clarified that Biden’s last prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test was in 2014, and no cancer diagnosis was made before Friday, when doctors confirmed an aggressive form of prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9, indicating metastasis to his bones.

Trump, speaking at the White House on Monday, questioned the timing, suggesting the advanced stage of Biden’s cancer implied a longer timeline. “This doesn’t happen overnight. Why wasn’t the public told sooner?” he remarked, fueling speculation of a cover-up during Biden’s presidency. Critics have long raised concerns about transparency regarding Biden’s health, especially after his faltering debate performance against Trump in June 2024, which led him to exit the re-election race.

Medical experts offered mixed perspectives. Adam Weiner, a urologic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told Al Jazeera that a new metastatic diagnosis at Biden’s age of 82 is plausible, as screening is not typically recommended for men over 70 due to potential overtreatment risks, per US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Nick James from The Institute of Cancer Research in London noted that some aggressive cancers with low PSA levels can evade detection, despite Biden’s access to top-tier medical care.

The controversy aligns with claims in a new book, Original Sin, by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson, released on Tuesday. It alleges Biden’s team concealed signs of his physical and mental decline, citing incidents like his failure to recognize George Clooney at a 2024 fundraiser. The diagnosis has reignited debates about Biden’s health transparency during his tenure.

Source: Al Jazeera