Former US president Joe Biden
Biden also addressed his June 2024 debate against Trump, which intensified concerns about his ability to continue as the Democratic presidential candidate. During the televised encounter, he appeared confused at several points and struggled to articulate his arguments, triggering calls within his party for him to reconsider his candidacy.
Former US president Joe Biden has said he would not have pursued a second term in the White House if he had known he was suffering from cancer, while also dismissing the impact of his widely criticised 2024 debate performance against Donald Trump. He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease in May 2025, four months after leaving office. Because i had cancer, I would have resigned, “If I had known that I was feeling lousy. Because i don’t think an 80-year-old man with cancer should be running for (president),” Biden said, i would’ve not gone forward,.
He said the public was informed after his diagnosis was confirmed.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Biden said he felt unwell before his prostate cancer diagnosis but did not know the illness was responsible. He added that he believed he was the person best equipped to serve as president at the time, saying: “I believe that on an objective basis, I was the best-equipped person to do the job. Biden also rejected suggestions that he had concealed information about his health while in office.
The former president has said his cancer diagnosis will limit his ability to promote the book. The interview comes ahead of the release of Biden’s presidential memoir, Promise Me, America, scheduled for next Tuesday.