Hunter Biden has revealed that his father, former United States president Joe Biden, is becoming increasingly weak as the cancer he was diagnosed with continues to spread.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC aired on Friday, Hunter described his father’s condition as “very debilitating”, saying it had caused prolonged suffering and was difficult for the family to witness.
“It’s very hard. It’s very sad to watch this happen,” Hunter said when discussing his father’s health.
He disclosed that Joe Biden’s cancer had spread to his bones and other parts of his body, adding that the condition was causing significant pain and affecting his father physically.
“I wish he would complain more about his pain because he’s not doing well. The cancer has spread to his bones and other parts. It is very painful and very debilitating in so many ways, but he continues to live his life and carry on with his daily activities,” he said.
The latest disclosure came several months after former US First Lady Jill Biden said her husband was likely to live with the disease for the rest of his life.
In an interview with NBC News’ Today programme in June, Jill said Joe Biden’s condition remained stable but acknowledged that the cancer spreading to his bones had made the illness significantly more serious.
She said a prostate cancer diagnosis alone could potentially be treated, but its spread to the bones represented a completely different situation.
“I think Joe will live with this cancer for the rest of his life,” Jill said.
Joe Biden’s office announced in May 2025, several months after he left the presidency, that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
In September that year, his family said he had completed radiotherapy and hormone therapy, although it was not disclosed whether further treatment would be required.
His office also announced last year that he had undergone surgery to remove cancerous skin cells.
During the BBC interview, Hunter also spoke emotionally about his father’s role within the family, describing Joe Biden as a major source of strength for his loved ones.
“He is our strength. He is always there for every one of us in ways that are difficult for me to articulate and explain,” Hunter said.
The interview also touched on the presidential pardon Joe Biden granted Hunter before leaving the White House. The pardon covered any offences Hunter may have committed between January 1, 2014 and December 1, 2024.
At the time, Hunter was facing federal charges linked to firearm possession and had also pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges.
While acknowledging that the pardon could be criticised and was not necessarily viewed as fair, Hunter said he remained grateful for his father’s decision.
“It’s something that is easy to criticise and there are certainly reasons to do so.
“All I know is that I am grateful that he did it for me,” he said.
Hunter had previously told a podcast hosted by California Governor Gavin Newsom that his father’s decision to pardon him demonstrated that Joe Biden had “chosen him over the political legacy he had built throughout his life”.
