Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, revealed that his father's prostate cancer has spread to his bones and other parts of the body. He noted that the illness causes severe pain and significantly impacts his daily life. Meanwhile, Joe Biden continues to appear publicly and express his positions on U.S. political and social issues.
Hunter Biden, son of former U.S. President Joe Biden, disclosed in an interview with BBC's Newsnight that his father's prostate cancer has spread to his bones and other areas of the body. He stated the illness causes severe pain and seriously affects his father's health.
Hunter spoke with deep emotion about how difficult it is to watch his father fight cancer, saying, "The cancer has spread to the bones and other parts," causing his father intense pain and weakness. A spokesperson for 83-year-old Joe Biden declined to comment further on the interview.
Joe Biden revealed he was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in May 2025, less than four months after leaving the presidency. At that time, his office stated the cancer had spread to his bones and that he had a Gleason Score of 9, placing him in Grade Group 5, the highest severity level for prostate cancer.
In October 2025, Biden's office announced he was undergoing radiation and hormone therapy to manage the prostate cancer. Additionally, in September of the same year, he had surgery to treat skin cancer.
Jill Biden, former U.S. First Lady, told CBS News in May that the family was deeply shocked upon receiving the diagnosis. She noted that the cancer might have gone undetected during Joe Biden's presidency, citing medical guidelines from the American Urological Association that men over 70 might not need regular PSA testing because some prostate cancers grow slowly.
In the BBC interview covering multiple topics, Hunter Biden also addressed his father's December 2024 presidential pardon of him, acknowledging that the decision could be criticized and might not benefit the public, the Constitution, or his father's political legacy.
Joe Biden granted his son a full and unconditional pardon, despite previously stating multiple times that he would not use presidential powers to intervene in Hunter's legal cases. The pardon covered Hunter's firearms case, tax offenses he admitted to, and potential federal crimes from 2014 to 2024.
Hunter said he understands why the pardon decision was criticized but believes his father acted out of concern that Hunter might become a political target and face prosecution under Donald Trump's incoming administration. He confirmed that before the pardon, neither he nor his father discussed the matter, believing such talks would inevitably become public.
Hunter also spoke about his battles with drug addiction, revealing that at his worst, he consumed nearly one gallon (about 3.8 liters) of vodka daily and smoked crack cocaine almost every 15 minutes. He described that period as "hell on earth," emphasizing that there is nothing to be proud of or glamorous about addiction.
Hunter rejected the notion that being the president’s son made him feel above the law. He explained that during that time, he was simply trying to escape anxiety and loneliness, with drugs and alcohol seeming like a way out before nearly costing him his life.
He said he now wants to use his personal experience to speak about addiction and recovery, believing this issue can connect Americans across political divides.
Hunter also discussed the June 2024 presidential debate, seen as a turning point when Joe Biden ended his bid for another term. Hunter admitted he immediately sensed something was wrong when he saw his father on the debate stage.
Previously, Hunter suggested his father's poor performance might have resulted from fatigue after extensive travel and the cancer diagnosis. He also questioned whether the illness might have begun affecting Joe Biden's health at that time.
However, Hunter said his father remains engaged in public issues and continues to voice political opinions, affirming that Joe Biden still holds strong faith in the United States.
When asked about his own political prospects, Hunter declined interest in running for office or the presidency. He wants to dedicate his time to campaigning on addiction and patient recovery instead.
Hunter stated that what he admires most about his father is not his political achievements but his ability to rise every time he faces hardship, calling Joe Biden "the strongest person" he knows.
Joe Biden is scheduled to release his memoir titled "Promise Me, America" on 17 Nov 2025 GMT+7, following the U.S. midterm elections.