Hunter Biden says Joe Biden's cancer has spread to bones, calls condition 'not good'

Cancer has spread

Hunter Biden, in an extensive interview with the BBC aired on the evening of Friday, 7 August 2026, disclosed that his 83-year-old father's prostate cancer has metastasized to the bones and beyond. Joe Biden revealed his diagnosis in May 2025, less than four months after leaving the Oval Office. The former president served as the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 and was the oldest person ever to hold the office. His advanced age and physical condition during his presidency repeatedly drew public concern and discussion in the United States about his fitness for the role.

The cancer has spread, it has metastasized to the bones and beyond.

Hunter Biden described the current stage of the illness as "very painful and in many ways very devastating" for his father. The rapid progression of the disease means the entire Biden family is going through an extraordinarily difficult period. The diagnosis, when publicly announced in May 2025, came after years of discussion about the politician's health and physical condition, topics that had been widely commented on already during his presidency.

"It's not good"

When asked about his father's current condition, Hunter Biden did not conceal the gravity of the situation. He expressed concern that the former president was not vocal enough about the suffering the disease causes him in his daily functioning, and said he wished his father would acknowledge the severity of what he is going through.

The only thing I can say about my dad, about his current health, is that I wish he would complain more, because it's not good.

The interview brings back the controversies that surrounded Biden's health during his time in office. Both Biden and his closest White House advisers faced sharp criticism for allegedly concealing the scale of his health problems from the public. Those concerns became particularly visible during the election campaign, after a catastrophic debate performance with the now-serving president Donald Trump. The performance exposed the Democratic candidate's weaknesses and ultimately forced Biden to withdraw from seeking re-election. He was replaced by Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee, who then lost to Trump in the general election.

Remaining active

Despite the progressing and devastating illness, the former president has not fully withdrawn from public life. Hunter Biden stressed that his father remains active and continues to speak out publicly on issues he considers important, still appearing in public and weighing in on matters he deems significant.

He's still doing his thing.

Hunter Biden added that Joe Biden "so believes in this country." The former president is also working on a book. After the autumn congressional by-elections, his memoirs titled "Promise Me, America" are scheduled to be published, indicating Biden intends to remain engaged in public discourse despite his deteriorating health.