Politics · United States · 3 hrs ago
Biden says he would not have sought re-election if he had known he had cancer
Joe Biden says he did not know he had cancer while he was president.
In an interview with People magazine, the former US president said he would not have sought re-election in 2024 if he had known he was ill.
Doctors diagnosed him with metastatic prostate cancer months after he left office in 2025.
Biden said he felt unwell but did not know cancer was the cause.
His 2024 campaign ended after a poor debate performance against Donald Trump, which intensified Democratic concerns about Biden’s age and ability to win.
Biden withdrew weeks later and backed Vice-President Kamala Harris, who won the Democratic nomination but lost the election to Trump.
Biden’s White House memoir is due to be released on Tuesday.
Joe Biden said he would not have pursued a second term if he had known he had cancer.
He said he did not know he had cancer while he was president.
Biden made the comments in an interview with People magazine ahead of the release of his White House memoir.
He was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer months after leaving office in 2025, according to the Associated Press.
Biden also said he believed he was capable of serving as president while in office.
- Who
- Joe Biden, the former US president.
- What
- He said he would not have sought a second term if he had known he had cancer.
- When
- In an interview ahead of the release of his memoir. The articles were published on November 11, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- He said that if he had known his poor health was caused by cancer, he would not have continued with a 2024 re-election bid.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Biden took part in a debate with Republican Donald Trump, which he later said was not decisive.
Biden ended his campaign and endorsed Kamala Harris, who secured the Democratic nomination and lost to Trump in the general election.
Biden was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer months after leaving office.
Biden discussed his cancer and 2024 re-election bid in an interview with People magazine.
- Interview outlet
- People magazine
- 2024 bid
- Biden’s re-election campaign ended after a debate with Donald Trump.
- Diagnosis
- Metastatic prostate cancer
- Diagnosis timing
- Months after Biden left office in 2025
- Age
- Biden was 81 during the June 2024 debate
4 sources
What people are saying
If I had known that I was feeling lousy because I had cancer, I would’ve not gone forward
I don’t think an 80-year-old man with cancer should be running
objectively, I think I was the best-qualified person to do the job