Press Secretary Caroline Levitt called the great team of government doctors “great” and said Trump was “in very good condition.”
White House press chief Karoline Leavitt said after former President Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis, the administration has expressed confidence in the White House medical units and experts at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Reporters asked Leavitt on May 19 whether President Donald Trump was concerned about the quality of White House doctors, suggesting he “missed the early stages” of Biden’s prostate cancer.
“It’s not as far as President Trump is concerned,” Levitt responded. “The White House doctors we have here are incredible, and the team of doctors who care for the president at Walter Reed Medical Center is especially amazing.”
On Sunday, Biden’s office said he was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that spread across his bones and is now considering treatment options. It came a few days after his spokesperson said a small nodule was found in his prostate area.
“This represents a more aggressive form of the disease, but cancer appears to be hormone sensitive and allows for effective management,” his office added that Biden and his family are “reviewing treatment options with doctors.”
In a May 19th post on X, Biden posted a photo of him and his wife, Jill Biden, saying, “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned the strongest in the broken place. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
Prostate cancer scores aggression based on what is called a Gleason score. The score ranges from 6 to 10, with prostate cancers of 8, 9, and 10 behaving more aggressively. Biden’s office said he scored at 9, suggesting his cancer is the most aggressive.
When prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it often enters the bones. Metastatic cancers are much more difficult to treat than local cancer, as they can be difficult to obtain drugs to reach all tumors and fully root the disease.
At a press conference, Leavitt also suggested that Trump is healthy, noting that he has visited the Middle East on years of travel.
“The president has had his body recently. You know, he had perfect results. He is in very good condition. I think your people who traveled to the Middle East with us last week can prove the durability of the president,” she said.
Following Biden’s announcement, support has been poured in from both Democrats and Republicans, including Trump.
“Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” Trump said in The Truth Society. “We will spread the warmest and best wishes to Jill and his family. We hope Joe has a quick and successful recovery.”
“He knows he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience and optimism that has always defined his life and leadership. We look forward to a complete and quick recovery,” she writes.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
