‘Another cover-up?’: Sick conspiracy about Biden’s cancer diagnosis emerges
Donald Trump Jr has questioned if news of Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis was part of a “cover-up”.
Donald Trump Jr has questioned if Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis was part of a “cover-up”, as conspiracy theories emerge just hours after news broke of the former US President’s health.
In a statement released on Sunday (US time), Mr Biden’s office announced the 82-year-old was diagnosed with prostate cancer which has metastasised to the bone, after experiencing urinary symptoms.
“On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone,” the statement read.
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.”
Taking to social media hours after re-sharing a post wishing Mr Biden a speedy recovery, the eldest son of US President Donald Trump speculated how the cancer had been missed until last week.
“What I want to know is how did Dr. Jill Biden miss stage five metastatic cancer or is this yet another cover-up???” Mr Trump Jr wrote on X, incorrectly labelling Mr Biden’s cancer diagnosis “stage five”.
According to the statement, Mr Biden’s cancer was found to have “a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5).” Prostate cancer that looks “very abnormal” is assigned the highest rating, Grade 5, according to the American Cancer Society. This is different from a cancer’s stage, which refers to the extent of which it has spread through the body.
Dr Biden is not a medical doctor, but rather has a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree.
In his post, Mr Trump Jr had shared a post by US physician-scientist Dr Steven Quay, who claimed it was likely Mr Biden was carrying a diagnosis of prostate cancer during his time in office.
“Prostate cancer is the easiest cancer to diagnose when it first starts and to watch it progress to bone metastases. The PSA blood test shows the rate of cancer cell growth. For even with the most aggressive form, it is a 5-7 year journey without treatment before it becomes metastatic,” Dr Quay wrote on X.
“Meaning, it would be malpractice for this patient to show up and be first diagnosed with metastatic disease in May 2025.”
“It is highly likely he was carrying a diagnosis of prostate cancer throughout his White House tenure and the American people were uninformed.”
According to Healthline, aggressive cancers are those that can form, grow or spread rapidly.
Other MAGA figures online also questioned the timing of the announcement.
President Trump’s former White House physician Ronny Jackson said it was “unbelievable” that Biden’s medical team missed the cancer.
“Care at the White House should be second to none,” he said.
“The truth is, his physician was more concerned about assisting with the political cover-up than providing world-class medical care.”
Far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer claimed without proof that “Biden has been terminally ill for a long time.”
However British media personality Piers Morgan came out in defence of the former US President, vehemently shutting down the “vile crap flying around”.
“There’s already a lot of this vile crap flying around – mocking, celebrating, or playing partisan politics with Joe Biden’s health news. The man has served his country for 50yrs and is fighting for his life. Show some bloody respect,” he wrote on X.
Mr Biden’s office said the former US President and his family “are reviewing treatment options with his physicians”.
A spokesperson for Mr Biden earlier announced on Tuesday a “small nodule” had been found in his prostate following a regular medical exam.
The discovery “necessitated further evaluation,” the spokesperson said at the time.
Donald Trump responds to Biden’s cancer news
Mr Trump said he was “saddened” to hear his predecessor has been diagnosed with an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer.
Taking to Truth Social, the President, who has repeatedly criticised Mr Biden’s age and cognitive ability, wished his former political opponent a “fast and successful recovery”.
“Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” he wrote.
“We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who took over the reins from Mr Biden in the 2024 presidential campaign, also took to social media to wish her former boss a “speeding recovery”, calling the 82-year-old a “fighter”.
“Doug and I are saddened to learn of President Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis. We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time,” Ms Harris wrote.
“Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery.”
Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz said he and his wife were praying for Mr Biden, calling him “a truly decent man and a friend”.
“We’re wishing him all the best,” he wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr earlier re-shared a post about Mr Biden on X which read: “Politics aside, we wish his a speedy recovery.”
“Agreed 100%,” Trump Jr wrote.
Recording sparks debate
The news of Mr Biden’s cancer diagnosis comes after a recording of him speaking hesitantly and struggling to remember key events and dates, released last week, fuelled renewed debate over his mental capabilities while still in office.
The recording was taken from the then-President’s October 2023 interviews with special counsel Robert Hur – who was investigating his handling of classified documents – and was obtained by Axios ahead of the release of a new book that lays bare the extent of Mr Biden’s mental and physical decline during his administration.
In the recording, Mr Biden struggled to recall the year he left office as Vice President, the year his son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015 or why he had the classified documents in question.
“The audio shows what the transcript lacks – the president’s dry-whisper voice and the long silences as he struggles to find the right words or dates,” the Axios report read.
“Those often were supplied by his attorneys, who acted as caretakers of his memory … Throughout his testimony, Biden sounded more like a nostalgic, grandfatherly storyteller than a potential defendant who could be accused of hoarding secret papers.”
Earlier this month, Mr Biden, who left office in January as the oldest serving US president in history, hit back at suggestions he experienced significant cognitive decline in his final year as President.
“They are wrong,” he told ABC’s The View. “There is nothing to sustain that.”
The Democrat maintains he could have won the 2024 presidential election, after he dropped out of the race due to questions over his age and abilities.
His vice president, Kamala Harris, eventually lost to Republican Donald Trump.
– With AFP
Originally published as ‘Another cover-up?’: Sick conspiracy about Biden’s cancer diagnosis emerges
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