Hunter Biden disclosed Friday in an interview with BBC Newsnight that his father, former President Joe Biden, has cancer that has metastasized to his bones, describing the condition as painful and debilitating as the 83-year-old continues to speak publicly on policy issues.
"The cancer has spread, metastasized into his bones and further," Hunter Biden said while visibly emotional during the interview, which aired late Friday. "It's very painful and it's very debilitating in many respects."
He added: "I wish he would complain more, because it's not good—the cancer has spread."
The former president was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in May 2025, four months after leaving office. Biden's office announced at the time that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone, though doctors indicated the cancer "appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management."
Hunter Biden, the former president's only surviving son, described watching his father battle the disease as emotionally difficult for the family. He praised Biden as "the center of our family" while acknowledging the toll the illness has taken.
"It's really tough. And that's the real answer. My dad in our family is—my dad is, to this day and it remains, the center of our family," Hunter said, fighting back tears. "Cancer is really hard. It's really sad to watch."
Despite the health challenges, the former president remains publicly engaged. Biden is currently undergoing radiation therapy and hormone treatment as part of a treatment plan, according to his medical team. The radiation treatment is expected to span five weeks. He previously underwent Mohs surgery to remove skin cancer, a procedure completed in July.
Biden's health has been a subject of intense scrutiny in American politics, particularly following his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race after a widely criticized debate performance in late July. Critics have alleged that Biden's administration concealed the extent of his health problems, both before and during his presidency, when age became a significant concern given his status as the oldest man to serve as U.S. president.
Hunter Biden noted in the BBC interview that despite his father's condition, Biden continues to engage with public discourse and policy issues. The former president announced in May that he was pursuing several treatment options to ensure "effective management" of the illness.
Medical experts have previously noted that given the nature of Biden's cancer and the fact that it had already metastasized at the time of diagnosis, the condition may have gone undetected for years before being discovered during a routine examination that revealed a prostate nodule following increasing urinary symptoms.
The former president's cancer diagnosis prompted widespread expressions of support from political figures across the spectrum, including from his successor, President Donald Trump, who said he and his wife were "saddened" to hear of Biden's diagnosis.
