Donald Trump, the US President, has dropped his earlier tact in favour of boasting about his own health and calling for a White House doctor to be investigated about a potential “cover-up”
Donald Trump has furiously demanded an investigation into Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis – following MAGA world into a conspiratorial interrogation of his predecessor’s health.
On Sunday, Mr Biden’s representatives announced the former President had been diagnosed with an “aggressive” and metastatic form of prostate cancer following a medical investigation the previous week. The news, which caused shockwaves across the US and beyond, was met – initially – with heartfelt tributes from both sides of the American political aisle, with Mr Trump among those extending his well-wishes. But fewer than 24 hours following the announcement, the President has abandoned his abandoned his early tact, claiming instead there had been a “cover-up” while heartlessly blustering about his own health.
READ MORE: Donald Trump ‘saddened’ as he issues statement in the wake of Joe Biden’s devastating cancer diagnosis
Speaking from the Oval Office on Monday, the President said he was “surprised” the public “wasn’t notified a long time ago”, claiming prostate cancer takes “a long time” to spread to what he said was “stage nine”.
Mr Biden, his representatives said on Sunday, was diagnosed with prostate cancer “characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5)”. The Gleason index characterises the type of cancer cell discovered, not the extent to which it has spread, with a score of nine suggesting the cells are abnormal and likely to spread quickly.
The diagnosis means Mr Biden’s cancer has been deemed “aggressive”, and that he is in a high risk group. The former President’s representatives have not revealed the stage of cancer, but did disclose it had metastasised – spread – to his bones.
Doctors speaking about the diagnosis have suggested the stage is likely M1, and have said “aggressive” cancers are known to develop especially quickly. But this has not stopped the US far-right from suggesting the Biden family’s distressing news is part of a cover-up, with Laura Loomer going as far as to sensationally and baselessly suggest his administration had covered up the diagnosis for four entire years.
Mr Trump, a close friend of “crazy conspiracy theorist” Ms Loomer, took his own approach, suggesting the doctor who treated him should be investigated.
He told reporters: “I think that if you look, it’s the same doctor that said that Joe was cognitively fine. There was nothing wrong with him. Maybe it was the same doctor, and somebody is not telling the facts.” He added that, while the news was “very sad” and that he felt “badly” about it, he felt “people should try and find out what happened”.
Others, including ultra-MAGA representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, have taken a softer approach, with the famously animated Biden critic saying she was “sorry to hear this news” and Republican House of Representatives majority leader Mike Johnson saying his family “will be joining the countless others who are praying for the former President in the wake of his diagnosis”.