Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, according to a statement from his office on Sunday.
Given the advanced stage of the illness, the Biden family is currently considering treatment options. “Last week, President Biden was evaluated after noticing increased urinary symptoms, leading to the discovery of a new prostate nodule. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, with a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) and evidence of bone metastasis,” the statement said.
“While this indicates a more aggressive type of cancer, it appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective treatment.”
Following the announcement, many people sent supportive messages. Among them was former President Donald Trump, who expressed sympathy for Biden’s diagnosis.
However, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., reacted differently, making remarks about Biden’s condition that sparked widespread outrage. He questioned, “How could Dr. Jill Biden miss a stage five metastatic cancer diagnosis, or is this another cover-up?”
Trump Jr., who serves as trustee and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, also agreed with a comment that accused Biden of “running the country like a vegetable hidden under a rug.”
As expected, social media users quickly condemned Trump Jr.’s statements. One person said, “Mocking a man’s cancer and blaming his wife—who isn’t a medical expert—is beyond insensitive. It’s Grade Group 5, not stage five, bonehead.” Another user wrote, “This goes beyond politics; it’s cruel, ugly, and despicable. There’s no other way to put it.” A third called out Trump Jr. for “shameless opportunism disguised as patriotism.”
Democratic activist Harry Sisson criticized Trump Jr.’s comments, saying, “Donald Trump Jr. ridiculed President Biden’s cancer diagnosis, reflecting the toxic state of American politics. He’s a disgraceful fraud with no decency and should be ashamed.”
Interestingly, hours earlier, Trump Jr. had posted an image announcing Biden’s diagnosis with the caption, “BREAKING: Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Setting politics aside, we wish him a swift recovery!” He also added, “Agreed 100%” to his own post.