Former President Joe Biden stated in a recent interview that he would not have pursued a second term in 2024 if he had known he had cancer, though he received the diagnosis months after leaving office. Biden made the remarks ahead of the release of his presidential memoir, Promise Me, America, in an interview with People magazine published on November 12, 2026.
Biden dismissed his widely criticized June 2024 debate performance as ‘not very consequential’, reiterating that he believed the event did not significantly impact his campaign trajectory. His comments follow his withdrawal from the race just 24 days after the debate, endorsing then-Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
Health disclosure and debate remarks
Biden revealed that he was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in 2025, months after concluding his presidency. In the interview, he emphasized that his decision to run in 2024 was made without knowledge of the illness. "If I had known that I was feeling lousy because I had cancer," Biden said, "I would’ve not gone forward" with the reelection bid. He added, "I don’t think an 80-year-old man with cancer should be running" for president.
Regarding the June 27, 2024 debate against former President Donald Trump, Biden maintained that the performance was not a turning point in his campaign. He noted that he had expected a second debate, which did not occur, but asserted that the initial debate’s outcome did not alter his assessment of its significance. "To me, it was not very consequential," Biden stated. "First of all, I thought there’d be another debate, which there wasn’t."
Reactions and political fallout
Biden’s remarks have drawn varied responses from political observers. Some critics characterized his debate dismissal as ‘totally delusional’, pointing to the rapid sequence of events following the debate—his withdrawal from the race and Harris’s subsequent loss to Trump in the general election. Conservative commentators, including former Trump campaign operative Steve Cortes and commentator Steve Guest, publicly questioned Biden’s framing of the debate as inconsequential, with Guest calling the claim delusional.
Others, including former National Republican Senatorial Committee adviser Matt Whitlock, argued that the debate was the most consequential in history, asserting that Biden’s performance likely cost him the nomination had it not occurred. Whitlock stated, "It was without question the most consequential Presidential debate in history."
Campaign timeline and post-debate decisions
Biden’s 2024 reelection campaign ended abruptly following the debate, with Harris securing the Democratic nomination. Harris ultimately lost the general election to Trump. In the interview, Biden defended his capacity to serve, citing his experience and international relationships as strengths. "I believe that on an objective basis, I was the best-equipped person to do the job," he said.
The former president also addressed concerns about his age during the campaign, which were amplified by his debate performance. Biden argued that age brought essential experience, though he acknowledged that his health diagnosis would have influenced his decision to run had it been known at the time.
Memoir release and ongoing reflections
The interview coincides with the release of Biden’s memoir, Promise Me, America, which provides further insight into his presidency and reflections on the 2024 election. The book is scheduled for publication on November 18, 2026.