Renowned oncologist Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, who was earlier part of President Biden’s COVID-19 advisory board, indicated on Monday, May 19, 2025, that the former president possibly had been living with prostate cancer throughout his tenure, for possibly a decade before it was publicly disclosed.
Appearing on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Emanuel, a bioethicist and former health advisor in the Biden administration, surprised hosts by suggesting that Biden’s cancer had been in existence long before the official announcement made on Sunday, May 18.
“He’s had this for many years, maybe even a decade, growing there and spreading,” Emanuel told the program’s hosts. “He did not develop it in the last 100 to 200 days.”
When host Joe Scarborough asked Emanuel whether his assertion was speculative or based on medical opinion, Emanuel confidently replied, stating that Biden had the condition while in office. “He likely had it at the beginning of his presidency in 2021,” Emanuel added, noting that he believed there was consensus on this point.
The former president’s office announced on Sunday that Biden, 82, was diagnosed two days prior with a severe form of prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), with metastasis to the bone. Experts state that the Gleason score ranges from 6 to 10, with higher scores indicating more aggressive cancers.
Emanuel, who was part of Biden’s COVID-19 Advisory Board during the transition and contributed to the Obama-era Affordable Care Act, questioned why routine prostate screening was neither conducted nor reported during Biden’s presidency.
He pointed out that upon reviewing available records, it seems there is no evidence Biden underwent a prostate-specific antigen test, a standard blood test for detecting potential prostate issues, at the time his health status was disclosed.
The doctor clarified that although some doctors recommend against prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests for men over 70, Biden’s role as president typically necessitates comprehensive medical screenings.
Emanuel, who is Vice Provost for Global Initiatives and chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, highlighted that former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush both underwent PSA tests while in office as part of standard screening protocols for presidents.
“President Obama had this test. President Bush had this test,” Emanuel stated.
When questioned about the chance that testing might have missed the cancer, Emanuel acknowledged that while technically possible, it was unlikely given the aggressive nature of Biden’s cancer and the annual frequency of such tests. “Either they didn’t test for it, or they test for it [and] they didn’t report it. And we didn’t get the information as a public,” he concluded.
The timing of Biden’s diagnosis has attracted attention following the recent announcement, which occurred just days after the former president was evaluated for urinary symptoms, leading to the discovery of a “small nodule” on his prostate earlier in the month.
On Monday, May 19, President Biden publicly acknowledged his diagnosis, stating on social media that “cancer touches us all.” He mentioned that both he and First Lady Jill Biden have realized they are “strongest in the broken places,” and expressed gratitude for the support they received.
Emanuel, 66, is a respected figure in both oncology and bioethics, with numerous publications on healthcare policy. He served as a health policy advisor in the Obama and Biden administrations and is the brother of former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who was White House Chief of Staff under President Obama.