President Donald Trump recently delivered a blunt assessment of former President Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis, signaling that sympathy is in short supply despite a formal public expression of goodwill.
In a sharp rebuke, Trump accused Biden of being “vicious” in his political conduct and dismissed any reason to feel sorry for him, reflecting the deep divisions that continue to define their relationship.
The remarks came during a press briefing in the Oval Office on Friday, where Trump took a question from Fox News’ Peter Doocy regarding the Biden administration’s handling of immigration and judicial resistance to his policy efforts.
While responding, Trump abruptly pivoted to condemn what he described as the administration’s reckless border policies, blaming Biden’s leadership for allowing criminal elements into the U.S. from various countries.
“One thing I can’t figure out is what were they thinking when they allowed millions of people from prisons all over the world?” Trump said, citing countries such as Venezuela, the Congo and unnamed regions of Asia and Europe, per BizPac Review.
“Why would they allow them to come into our country?”
He went on to express doubt that Biden was even in control of the policies, suggesting instead that others in his administration were driving the agenda.
“I don’t believe it was Joe Biden,” Trump said. “He’s been a sort of moderate person over his lifetime. Not a smart person. But a somewhat vicious person, I will say.”
Trump then shifted to a more personal critique.
“If you feel sorry for him, don’t feel so sorry, because he’s vicious, what he did with his political opponent and all of the people that he hurt,” Trump continued. “He hurt a lot of people, and so, I really don’t feel sorry for him.”
This pointed criticism stands in contrast to Trump’s earlier Truth Social post, where he struck a more diplomatic tone following Biden’s public revelation of his prostate cancer diagnosis.
“Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” Trump wrote. “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Questions have emerged about the timing of the cancer announcement, which came just ahead of the release of CNN anchor Jake Tapper’s new book.
The book reportedly raises concerns about Biden’s mental acuity, prompting some to speculate whether the diagnosis was disclosed as a strategic distraction.
Critics have also pointed out that the condition went unmentioned throughout Biden’s presidency, raising doubts about when it was first detected and why it took so long to be revealed.
Trump’s description of Biden as “vicious” may stem from his view of the administration’s legal and political efforts against him, including the Justice Department’s prosecution of Trump and the president’s frequent depiction of Trump and his base as threats to American democracy, according to BPR.
Biden has constantly compared Trump to authoritarian figures and referred to certain Republican voters as “semi-fascists,” language that many conservatives argue unfairly vilifies tens of millions of Americans.
According to the outlet, these remarks may help explain the limited expressions of sympathy from Trump and his supporters following Biden’s health announcement.
