Joe Biden Makes First Public Appearance After Stage 4 Cancer Diagnosis Amid Growing Political Scrutiny

 May 25, 2025 | Washington, D.C. — Former U.S. President Joe Biden made his first public appearance Friday following the announcement of his stage 4 prostate cancer diagnosis, amid a deepening political controversy surrounding his health and leadership during his final year in office.

Speaking briefly to reporters at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut—where he attended his grandson’s graduation—Biden, 82, appeared in good spirits. “I’m feeling great,” he said, accompanied by former First Lady Jill Biden. The appearance marked his first since his office disclosed on May 18 that the former president had been diagnosed with an aggressive, hormone-sensitive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones.

Medical experts have raised questions about how such an advanced condition could have gone undetected. A Gleason score of 9, as reported, typically indicates a highly aggressive cancer often caught through routine screening. According to a Biden spokesperson, the former president had not undergone a PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test since 2014 and had never previously been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The revelation has sparked political backlash, particularly among Republican leaders who allege a lack of transparency from Biden’s administration. President Donald Trump accused Biden’s aides of using his condition to implement unauthorized policies, calling it “treason at the highest level.” Vice President J.D. Vance questioned Biden’s fitness to serve, stating, “I don’t think he was able to do a good job for the American people.”

Republican Senators Ron Johnson and John Cornyn have both called for formal investigations. Johnson told Axios that he plans to seek testimony from individuals with direct contact with Biden during his presidency. Cornyn issued a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting a probe into whether the public was misled about Biden’s health.

Adding to the scrutiny, a forthcoming book titled Original Sin claims members of Biden’s inner circle deliberately concealed signs of cognitive decline during his presidency. The allegations have reignited criticism of Biden’s 2024 campaign decision—an effort that ultimately ended with his withdrawal following a widely criticized debate performance.

Biden has denied assertions of mental decline, stating: “There’s nothing to sustain that.” In the aftermath of the Democratic Party’s defeat in the 2024 presidential election, Biden has maintained that he could have secured victory had he remained in the race.

As the investigation efforts gain traction and political tensions mount, Biden’s condition and its implications for his final year in office are expected to remain a dominant topic in Washington in the weeks ahead.