Biden cancer diagnosis sparks transparency debate and Trump accusations

Tuesday 20 May 2025 - 08:31

By: Zahouani Ilham

Biden cancer diagnosis sparks transparency debate and Trump accusations

Former U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent cancer diagnosis has reignited public debate over transparency during his time in office, with ex-President Donald Trump alleging a possible cover-up.

Speaking from the White House, Trump expressed skepticism about the timing of Biden’s advanced prostate cancer diagnosis, questioning why the public was not informed earlier. “It’s very sad. I think people should investigate what happened,” Trump said, also accusing Biden’s former medical team of withholding the truth.

Biden’s office announced on Sunday that the former president has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones. He reportedly began experiencing worsening urinary symptoms before receiving the diagnosis last Friday. Doctors graded the cancer as a 9 on the Gleason scale, indicating a highly aggressive form. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, late-stage prostate cancer has a five-year survival rate of just 28%.

Biden thanked supporters in a social media post, saying, “Cancer touches us all... Jill and I are strongest in the broken places.”

The diagnosis comes amid increasing scrutiny over Biden’s health, ahead of a forthcoming book Original Sin by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. The book alleges that Biden’s inner circle hid signs of physical and mental decline, including an incident where he reportedly failed to recognize actor George Clooney at a fundraiser in 2024.

Trump linked Biden’s cancer to these allegations, saying the same doctor who declared Biden mentally fit may have concealed other health issues.

Several medical experts have raised doubts about the official timeline. Some argue that cancer of this severity typically develops over several years, suggesting Biden may have had it during his presidency. Yale radiology professor Howard Forman called it “inconceivable” that Biden’s condition wasn’t detected earlier, as routine PSA tests could have flagged abnormalities.

However, other specialists noted exceptions. Peter Nelson, an oncologist from Seattle, said rapid progression of prostate cancer in a short period—such as one to two years—is possible, though uncommon. Dr. Daniel Lin from UW Medicine added that PSA testing is controversial in older patients, and some cases may escape early detection altogether.

Peter Black, director of the Vancouver Prostate Centre, suggested Biden’s test results may have appeared normal despite the presence of cancer, which occurs in a minority of cases.

As the public awaits further clarification, the debate over medical transparency in high office continues to grow, intertwining health concerns with political controversy.