Jill Biden shares rare update on Joe Biden’s cancer battle as she prepares to release new memoir
Former first lady Jill Biden has offered a rare public update on the health of her husband, former U.S. president Joe Biden, following his diagnosis with an aggressive form of prostate cancer earlier in 2025.
According to comments reported by the Associated Press, Jill Biden said the former president is currently “doing well” as he continues treatment after the disease was discovered to have spread to his bones.
The diagnosis became public in May 2025, several months after Biden left the White House. At the time, his office confirmed the cancer had already metastasized and that treatment had begun.
Jill Biden said the diagnosis came as “quite a shock” for the family and explained that because the cancer has spread to his bones, Joe Biden will live with the disease for the rest of his life.
Despite the diagnosis, she indicated that the former president remains active and continues traveling to Washington, D.C., for meetings and speaking engagements.
“Like most retired couples, he’ll probably drive me crazy till the end of it,” she joked in remarks cited by the Associated Press while describing their life after the presidency.
Since leaving office, Joe Biden has continued to appear occasionally in public. Reports note that he has attended events such as the funeral of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, delivered speeches at several gatherings, and has even been spotted traveling on a commercial flight.
Jill Biden said the former president still travels regularly to Washington for meetings or speaking commitments, signaling that he remains engaged in public life despite ongoing treatment.
The health update comes after months with few public comments about Biden’s condition following the initial announcement.
A memoir reflecting on the presidency
Former first lady Jill Biden is preparing to release a new memoir reflecting on her years in the White House. Her book, View from the East Wing: A Memoir, is scheduled to be published on June 2 and will revisit the four years of her husband Joe Biden’s presidency.
In a video announcing the project, Jill said she entered the role of first lady during an extraordinary period for the country.
“I entered the role of first lady in a unique time in our nation’s history, in the midst of a pandemic and the shadow of an insurrection,” she said.
She described serving in the East Wing as “the honor of my life,” adding that parts of the story have not yet been told.
Speaking with the Associated Press, Jill said writing the book was “kind of cathartic,” allowing her to reflect on both difficult and meaningful moments from their time in the White House.
The final chapter of Biden’s political career
The memoir will also address Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
Biden announced in April 2023 that he would run for a second term at age 80, but concerns about his age intensified following a June 2024 debate against Donald Trump.
After initially remaining in the race, Biden stepped aside weeks later and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. Harris ultimately lost the November 2024 election to Trump.
Jill Biden said writing the memoir allowed her to “put things in perspective” and present a more balanced view of her husband’s presidency.
