When news broke that Joe Biden has aggressive prostate cancer, many expected Donald Trump to offer sympathy. And at first, he did. However, during a press conference in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump quickly turned the moment into something about himself.
“I think it’s very sad, actually,” Trump said when asked about Biden’s diagnosis. “I’m surprised that the public wasn’t notified a long time ago because to get to Stage 9, that’s a long time.”
Trump on Biden’s cancer diagnosis: “I’m surprised that the public wasn’t notified a long time ago, because to get to stage 9, that’s a long time … I did a very complete physical, including cognitive tests. I’m proud to announced I aced it.” pic.twitter.com/6mk3bGszAm
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 19, 2025
There’s just one problem with that statement: there is no “Stage 9” cancer.
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Cancer is usually staged from 1 to 4, depending on its spread. Biden’s team explained that he has a Gleason score of 9—a medical term used to grade how aggressive prostate cancer is. It’s serious and has already spread to his bones, but it’s not some made-up “Stage 9.”
Still, Trump kept repeating it. “It takes a long time to get to that situation, to get to a Stage 9,” he said again, clearly misunderstanding what the number meant. Medical experts quickly pointed out the error online. Prostate cancer does not have nine stages, and the number Trump kept saying referred to how aggressive the cancer is, not how long Biden had it.
And he didn’t stop there.
Trump then took the opportunity to remind everyone of his own health. “I did a very complete physical, including cognitive tests. I’m proud to announce I aced it. I got them all right,” he said proudly. “I think, frankly, anybody running for president should take a cognitive test.”
He added that his doctor, White House physician Sean Barbabella, declared him in “excellent cognitive and physical health” and “fully fit” to serve as president. Trump, 78, credits his energy to “playing golf and eating healthy portions.”
Trump also raised questions about how long the public had known. “Why did it take so long? This could take years to get to this level of danger,” he said. “Somebody is not telling the facts.”
He also pointed fingers at Biden’s doctor. “There are things going on that the public wasn’t informed of,” Trump said. “Somebody is going to have to speak to his doctor.”
His son, Donald Trump Jr., took things even further. He jumped right into conspiracy theories. On X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “What I want to know is how did Dr. Jill Biden miss stage five metastatic cancer or is this yet another coverup???” He claimed the Bidens had known for years and kept it secret to stay in power.
What I want to know is how did Dr. Jill Biden miss stage five metastatic cancer or is this yet another coverup??? pic.twitter.com/fSqtDmcX4p
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 18, 2025
Featured image via Screengrab
