Hunter Biden: Joe Biden's cancer has spread, metastasized

Hunter Biden disclosed in a BBC interview Friday that former President Joe Biden's prostate cancer has metastasized to his bones and beyond, describing the condition as "very painful" and "very debilitating." The emotional revelation offers the most detailed public update yet on the 83-year-old's health since his diagnosis was announced in May 2025.

Joe Biden's personal office confirmed in May 2025 that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had already spread to his bones. He subsequently underwent a course of radiation therapy and hormone treatment, which the family said wrapped up in September 2025, though it remained unclear whether additional care would be required.

A Family's Public Struggle

Former first lady Jill Biden addressed the severity of the diagnosis in a June interview with NBC News, telling "TODAY" co-host Craig Melvin that Joe would "live with cancer till the rest of his life." She noted that while prostate cancer alone can often be cured, the metastasis to his bones changes the prognosis significantly. Her comments marked one of the first times the family acknowledged the cancer's permanence.

Hunter Biden's Emotional Interview

In the BBC interview, Hunter Biden became visibly emotional when discussing his father's condition, calling him "our rock" and saying he has been a pillar of support for the family. He described watching the cancer's progression as "really hard" and "really sad," and expressed a wish that his father would complain more, saying, "It's not good." He detailed that the cancer "has metastasized into his bones and further," leaving the former president in significant pain and struggling with debilitation in many respects.

Despite the grim assessment, Hunter Biden noted his father's resilience, saying, "He's still out there and he's still doing his thing." The interview offers a rare, intimate look at how the Biden family is coping with the former president's health crisis.

The Pardon Shadow

Hunter Biden also addressed the sweeping pardon his father issued just before leaving office, which covered any crimes from Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 1, 2024. At the time, Hunter was facing federal gun charges and had pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges. In the BBC interview, he admitted the pardon was "not fair" and vulnerable to criticism, but expressed gratitude: "All I know is that I'm grateful that he did it for me."

He went on to say that he was "the only one in the world that could have gotten what I got from the only person in the world who could give it, my father." This echoes his earlier comment on California Gov. Gavin Newsom's podcast, where he said the pardon meant his father had "chose me over his legacy."

The new details about Joe Biden's cancer progression raise renewed questions about his long-term health and the ongoing role he may play in public life. As the family continues to share updates, medical experts will be watching for what additional treatments might be pursued and how the former president manages an increasingly challenging diagnosis.