Biden Unloads Brutal Truth: Cancer Would Have Stopped His Run

Joe Biden said he would have quit the race. He would not have run for a second term. The reason is simple. He did not know he had cancer at the time. This is the story now.

According to the New York Post, Biden spoke to PEOPLE magazine. He made a clear statement. He said, “If I had known that I was feeling lousy because I had cancer, I would have resigned.” He added that he “would’ve not gone forward.” His reasoning was specific. “I don’t think an 80-year-old man with cancer should be running for [president].” That is what he told the readers.

The timeline is key here. Associated Press reports that Biden announced in May 2025 that he had metastatic prostate cancer. This was after he left office. The cancer had spread to his bones. Biden said he was unaware of having cancer during his presidency, according to Associated Press. He finished his time in the White House without that diagnosis. He has since completed radiation treatment. He has also begun hormone therapy.

Biden also addressed the debate. The June 2024 CNN forum caused a stir. New York Post quotes him saying, “I don’t know anybody who hasn’t made a mistake in a debate.” He called the event “not very consequential.” He said, “But notwithstanding the fact that there wasn’t another debate, it didn’t disturb me because it wasn’t consequential.” He thought there would be another one. “First of all, I thought there’d be another debate, which there wasn’t.” He stood by his performance despite the struggles.

He still believes he was the right choice. Associated Press reports that Biden maintained he could carry out his duties. He told the magazine, “I believe that on an objective basis, I was the best-equipped person to do the job.” This comes after his son spoke out about the pain. Hunter Biden told the BBC that the cancer was causing his father pain. He said, “It’s very painful and it’s very debilitating in many respects.”

Biden also talked about Donald Trump. He watched how the president operates. New York Post reports that Biden said, “I watched the modus operandi of Trump. He goes after people without any basis, whether they’re viewed as an enemy.” Biden said, “I knew what he would do.” He also made a joke about his health battle. He said, “We finally beat Medicare.” These comments came as he prepared to release his White House memoir on Tuesday.

The former president turns 84 on Nov. 20. He turns 84 this year. The diagnosis came months after he left office. The contrast is sharp. He said he would have stopped running if he knew. Yet he stayed the course. He finished his term. He faced the debate. He kept the job.

The truth is he did not know. He ran while sick. He did not know it. He says he would have stopped. He says he would have quit. That is the gap between what he knew then and what he knows now. The cancer was there.