Hunter Biden disclosed in a televised interview Friday that his father, former President Joe Biden, is experiencing a worsening cancer condition, with the disease having metastasized beyond his bones. Speaking on BBC Newsnight with host Paddy O'Connell, Hunter Biden grew emotional as he described his father's illness as "very painful" and "very debilitating," adding: "I wish he would complain more, because it's not good."

Joe Biden, 83, was diagnosed in May 2025 with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, graded at a Gleason score of 9, placing him in Grade Group 5, the most severe category. His office reported in October 2025 that he had completed a round of radiation therapy and hormone treatment, though it remained unclear whether additional care would be required. Former first lady Jill Biden previously told NBC News that her husband would "live with cancer till the rest of his life" given the extent to which the disease had spread.

Hunter Biden also addressed his father's widely scrutinized performance at the June 2024 presidential debate against Donald Trump, saying he watched it alone at his California home and was immediately alarmed. "I could tell as soon as my father came out that something was wrong," he said, describing an unusual "hundred-yard stare" he had never seen before. He suggested the underlying cancer, diagnosed months later, may have been a contributing factor to the performance that ultimately prompted Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.

In the same interview, Hunter Biden reflected on the broad presidential pardon his father granted him before leaving office in January 2025, which covered potential federal offenses between January 2014 and December 2024. He called the pardon "not fair" but acknowledged his gratitude, saying his father "chose me over his legacy." Hunter Biden had been facing federal gun charges and had previously pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges before the pardon was issued.

The interview arrives as Joe Biden remains publicly active despite his condition, with a memoir titled "Promise Me, America" scheduled for release after the midterm elections. Former first lady Jill Biden has said the cancer diagnosis was a shock to the family, noting that routine PSA screenings are not typically recommended for men over 70 under American Urological Association guidelines, which she offered as a partial explanation for why the cancer was not detected during his time in the White House.