Donald Trump briefly put aside his usual rhetoric following the announcement that Joe Biden had been diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer. In a statement posted to social media on 18 May, the former US president expressed his sympathy, writing that he and his wife Melania were “saddened” by the news and wished Biden “a fast and successful recovery.” The message was uncharacteristically measured, drawing a rare moment of bipartisan compassion.
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However, this sentiment quickly dissolved. Trump soon returned to form, using Biden’s diagnosis as a launchpad for political attacks and conspiracy theories. On Memorial Day – a time traditionally reserved for honouring fallen service members – Trump issued a post laced with vitriol, accusing Biden of opening the country’s borders to criminals and attacking the judiciary for protecting them. The post stood in sharp contrast to his earlier message, replacing concern with inflammatory language and sweeping accusations.
Trump escalated matters by promoting an unfounded theory suggesting Biden’s cancer had been concealed from the public and that others exploited his condition while he remained in office. He misrepresented medical terminology, confusing the cancer’s stage with the Gleason score used in diagnosis. Trump further reignited right-wing speculation surrounding the use of an autopen, implying that Biden was incapable of performing presidential duties and that others were acting on his behalf.
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Figures close to Trump, including his son Donald Trump Jr, joined the fray. Trump Jr mocked First Lady Jill Biden, questioning her role in allegedly missing her husband’s diagnosis and fuelling claims of a cover-up. Trump himself reposted conspiratorial content branding Biden a “decrepit corpse” used to manipulate the country. The pattern reflects a broader trend: since taking office, Trump has referenced Biden or his family hundreds of times – underscoring a political strategy built on relentless personal attacks, even amid serious health disclosures.
