Hunter Biden has suggested that his father, former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., was unknowingly suffering from advanced cancer during the June 2024 presidential debate that undermined his reelection campaign. Speaking on a podcast last week, Hunter Biden said his father appeared "blank" throughout the debate and attributed this to the later-discovered diagnosis of Stage 4 prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones.
Joseph Biden, 83, was diagnosed in May 2025 with an aggressive form of prostate cancer which had spread extensively. His office had previously disclosed that he underwent surgery last year to remove skin cancer lesions followed by radiation therapy. Hunter Biden indicated that the cancer had been developing for more than three years, potentially predating the debate by a significant margin.
The June 2024 debate was widely regarded as a critical moment in Biden’s faltering 2024 presidential bid. During the event, he appeared confused and struggled to maintain his train of thought, sparking concerns over his cognitive competence among voters and Democratic Party officials alike. Poll numbers dropped sharply following the debate, and numerous Democrats urged him to withdraw from the race. Biden eventually suspended his campaign in late July 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris subsequently replaced him as the Democratic nominee but lost the general election to Donald J. Trump.
Medical professionals not involved in Biden’s care expressed skepticism that prostate cancer was responsible for his debate difficulties. Dr. Paul Monk, an oncologist at Ohio State University, explained that prostate cancer is generally slow-growing and uncommon to cause cognitive decline, as it rarely spreads to the brain. Dr. Monk described any link between the cancer and debate performance as an example of correlation rather than causation. Similarly, Dr. Paul Nguyen of Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute stated it was “extremely unlikely” that the cancer affected Biden’s cognitive function during the debate.
Hunter Biden’s comments come amid a series of public explanations offered by the former president and his family regarding his debate performance. Following the event, Biden attributed his difficulties to a “bad cold” and later suggested distractions and travel fatigue contributed to his struggles. Hunter Biden previously claimed that his father was prescribed the sleep aid Ambien to help recover from extensive travel and a fundraiser, though he later clarified he was unsure if the medication was taken before the debate. Jill Biden, the former first lady, described her husband’s debate appearance as unlike anything she had seen before, speculating in a CBS interview that he might have been experiencing a stroke.
Attempts to reach Biden’s spokesperson, T.J. Ducklo, for further comment were unsuccessful. Hunter Biden declined to expand on his recent statements when asked in a brief phone interview, saying only, “I’m not going to comment. I said what I said.”
Former President Biden remains active in public life, appearing at political events and traveling between Delaware and Washington. His forthcoming memoir is scheduled for release in November, shortly after the upcoming midterm elections.