Former U.S. President Joe Biden sparked renewed controversy recently as a video of his remarks indicating he had cancer resurfaced online. At that time, the White House clarified that he was referring to non-melanoma skin cancer, but doubts have emerged, mainly among Republicans, about whether Biden has been concealing a serious health condition.
The controversial video features a speech on air pollution in Massachusetts, where former President Biden stated, "The reason I got cancer is the same as the reason so many people here got cancer." This video had also caused controversy at the time, with the White House explaining that he was referring to the skin cancer that had been treated. However, the video has resurfaced following Biden's recent diagnosis of prostate cancer.
Right-wing figures shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), claiming it had been "concealed for years," and the Republican Party criticized, stating, "The president hid cancer during his term." The White House dismissed these claims, stating, "This matter has already been explained, and using the present tense is simply a matter of expression."
Additionally, controversy surrounding President Biden's memory and cognitive abilities is rekindled. According to a report released in February by Special Counsel Robert Hur, Biden could not remember basic facts such as the year of his son Beau Biden's death and the year Donald Trump was elected. In an interview recording obtained by Axios, he was noted to often stutter or display long silences, and it was confirmed that there were interventions by lawyers at critical moments.
Hur concluded in his report that Biden was a "well-meaning elderly individual with memory deficiencies" and decided not to pursue criminal charges, to which the White House strongly objected. However, Axios reported that the debate surrounding Biden's health and age issues is likely to continue into the upcoming election cycle.