Donald Trump Jr. encountered strong criticism on social media after making contentious comments about former President Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis on Sunday, May 19, 2025. Initially, Trump Jr. seemed supportive but later made remarks that many found to be lacking in sensitivity.
Biden’s office revealed on Sunday that the 82-year-old former president had been diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, May 16, following increased urinary symptoms and an evaluation for a prostate nodule identified during a routine examination. The statement outlined that Biden’s condition is marked by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone, indicating the cancer is aggressive and has spread beyond the prostate.
Shortly after the diagnosis was announced, Trump Jr. reposted a message sending well wishes, agreeing with its sentiment. However, roughly three hours later, his tone changed significantly when he shared a follow-up post questioning how Jill Biden missed the diagnosis. He referred to her as “Dr. Jill Biden” — a nod to her doctoral degree in education — and hinted at a possible “coverup.”
Trump Jr. wrote, “What I want to know is how did Dr. Jill Biden miss stage five metastatic cancer or is this yet another coverup???” This post was pinned to the top of his social media feed and included a message claiming it was “highly likely” that Biden was diagnosed while still president but kept it hidden from the public.
The next day, on Monday, May 19, Trump Jr. reinforced his conspiracy claims with a longer message, also criticizing Biden’s cognitive abilities. He referred to past comments Biden had made about cancer and alleged that those around the former president had concealed his health status from the public, raising questions about who governed during Biden’s presidency.
Trump Jr.’s comments were in stark contrast to those of his father, President Donald Trump, who extended well wishes to Biden. On his Truth Social platform, President Trump expressed that he and First Lady Melania Trump were saddened by the diagnosis and hoped for Biden’s speedy recovery, adhering to the tradition of setting aside differences during health crises.
Other conservative figures also offered supportive messages to Biden. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia expressed sympathy and said she would be praying for Biden and his family during this challenging time.
Medical experts have provided context regarding the severity of Biden’s diagnosis. A Gleason score assesses the aggressiveness of prostate cancer on a scale from 6 to 10, with higher scores indicating more aggressive forms. Biden’s score of 9 places his condition in the most aggressive category, though his medical team noted that the cancer is hormone-sensitive, which typically allows for more effective treatment options.
According to the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer is among the most common cancers in men, with an estimated 313,780 new cases projected in 2025, accounting for about 15.4% of all new cancer diagnoses. While diagnosis rates have increased by approximately 1.8% annually from 2013 to 2022, mortality rates have declined by an average of 0.6% each year from 2014 to 2023.
Biden addressed his diagnosis publicly on Monday, May 19, sharing a message on social media acknowledging the widespread impact of cancer. He stated, “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places.”
The former president has a history with cancer advocacy, having led the Cancer Moonshot initiative during his vice presidency after his son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015. Biden later revitalized the project during his presidency, committing to significantly reduce cancer death rates in the United States.
Social media reactions to Trump Jr.’s comments have been largely negative, with many users deeming them insensitive given the serious nature of the diagnosis. Critics have focused on the timing of his comments, which came soon after the announcement of Biden’s condition and contrasted sharply with the more respectful tone taken by other political figures, including his own father.
Biden’s cancer diagnosis is part of ongoing discussions about his health during his presidency, which were a key factor in his decision not to seek reelection in 2024. His office has stated that the former president and his family are currently reviewing treatment options with his physicians.
