President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer, reigniting scrutiny over earlier statements and denials surrounding his health.

According to a May 18 statement from his office, Biden was diagnosed after experiencing urinary symptoms and undergoing evaluation for a prostate nodule. The cancer, described as having metastasized to the bone and scoring a 9 on the Gleason scale, is “hormone-sensitive,” meaning it may still respond well to treatment. “The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians,” the statement read.

The announcement marks a stark turn from a years-long public narrative about Biden’s health, which began unraveling as early as July 2022 when he declared, “That’s why I and so damn many other people I grew up (with) have cancer.” At the time, Biden attributed the condition to growing up near oil refineries in Delaware. But the White House quickly insisted he was referring to previously removed non-melanoma skin cancers, not an active diagnosis.

 

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That moment sparked national confusion and a flurry of fact-checks. Major media outlets like the AP and FactCheck.org leaned heavily on White House statements. FactCheck reported,“A White House spokesperson said Biden was referring to a skin cancer that was removed before he became president.”

The AP published a story headlined, “FACT FOCUS: Biden cancer remark causes confusion,” downplaying the significance of the president’s words.

Andrew Bates, a White House spokesperson, dismissed questions at the time, tweeting that Biden’s comment had been misinterpreted and referring critics to Glenn Kessler of The Washington Post, who downplayed the claim. “How dumb is this tweet?” Kessler posted, referencing critics. “Check out Biden’s medical report.”

That medical report, issued by Dr. Kevin O’Connor in November 2021, stated Biden had “several localized, non-melanoma skin cancers removed with Mohs surgery before he started his presidency,” and emphasized that the lesions were “completely excised, with clear margins.” O’Connor attributed the cancers to sun exposure during Biden’s youth, not pollution or chemical exposure.

But critics now say the administration’s past reassurances didn’t reflect the full truth. Dr. Steven Quay, a physician and scientist, posted to X, “It is highly likely he was carrying a diagnosis of prostate cancer throughout his White House tenure and the American people were uninformed.”

He added, “It would be malpractice for this patient to show up and be first diagnosed with metastatic disease in May 2025.”

While there is still no official timeline for when Biden may have first been diagnosed, growing suspicions about his health gained new traction in the summer of 2024 after a widely panned debate performance against former President Donald Trump. The event triggered a wave of stories from media outlets previously accused of shielding the President from scrutiny. Headlines shifted, and reporters began openly questioning Biden’s health.

Several forthcoming books are expected to explore the gap between Biden’s public appearances and what those closest to him may have known behind closed doors.

Despite the renewed controversy, reactions to Biden’s diagnosis have been largely sympathetic.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) wrote on X, “Cancer is truly awful. My Dad passed away in 2021 with cancer. Prays for Joe Biden and his family.”

Delaware Representative Tim “Sarah” McBride (D) offered similar sentiments: “President Biden has faced immense challenges throughout his life with resilience and grace. I know he’ll face this battle with the same strength and dignity… Delaware is holding them close in our hearts.”

President Biden himself posted on May 19: “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”