The discovery raises new questions about Joe Biden’s health just months after he stepped away from political life – the nodule was found during “a routine physical exam”, a spokesperson confirmed.
Former President Joe Biden has a small nodule on his prostate that requires further evaluation. The discovery raises new questions about the 82-year-old’s health just months after he stepped away from political life. The nodule was discovered during “a routine physical exam”, a spokesperson confirmed.
While no diagnosis has yet been released, prostate nodules can range from benign, age-related growths to early signs of more serious conditions such as cancer or infection. Biden, who left office in January as the oldest president in US history, has long faced discussion over his physical and cognitive fitness. Though his physician declared him “fit to serve” after a February 2024 examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre, the former president’s decline during his final year in office stirred concern both publicly and privately.
A forthcoming book, Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again , set to be released on May 20, reportedly details the extent of Biden’s ailing health.
According to CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson, who authored the book, some senior advisers quietly debated whether Biden might eventually require the use of a wheelchair if he continued into a second term. The discussion reportedly came amid increasing incidents of imbalance and falls, which were widely noted and criticised during the final stretch of Biden’s presidency.
One widely circulated moment occurred during a June 2023 commencement address at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado, when Biden tripped onstage and had to be helped to his feet by Secret Service agents.
Observers, including medical professionals on social media, pointed out his shuffling gait and growing tendency to stumble, suggesting worsening spine and neurological issues.
White House officials dismissed the concerns at the time, attributing the president’s physical challenges to common effects of ageing. Biden’s decision not to seek reelection in 2024 came after months of speculation and pressure from within his own party.
Though he remained the presumptive nominee for most of the primary season, he eventually ceded the race to then-Vice President Kamala Harris, citing a need for new leadership.
Some Democrats now argue that Biden should have made that decision earlier, giving others, including Harris, a better chance to mount a strong campaign against Donald Trump.
Senator Amy Klobuchar said over the weekend that the Democratic Party would have been “better served” by a full primary contest in 2024, rather than defaulting to the incumbent.
“We needed a real debate about the future of the country,” she said. “Instead, we were stuck in a waiting game.”
News of the prostate nodule comes as Biden made a cautious return to public life. He and former First Lady Jill Biden appeared together on ABC’s The View last week, sparking mixed reactions among Democrats about the role the former president should play heading into the 2026 midterms.