Camilla Jessen
Critics say his remarks crossed a line.
As news broke that President Joe Biden had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, reactions poured in across the political spectrum.
Among the most controversial responses came from Donald Trump Jr., who initially appeared to set politics aside with a brief statement wishing Biden a “speedy recovery.”
But that tone didn’t last long.
From Respect to Accusation
Shortly after his initial post, Trump Jr. pivoted.
In a follow-up message shared on X, he took aim at First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, questioning how she — a longtime educator — could have “missed” her husband’s cancer diagnosis.
He went on to float a conspiracy theory suggesting the White House may have known about Biden’s diagnosis earlier and intentionally withheld it from the public.
That message, pinned to the top of his feed, drew intense backlash online.
“You’re a Disgrace”
The response was swift.
“You’re a disgrace,” one user wrote.
“This is in really bad taste even for you,” another commented.
Others called out the spread of medical misinformation, urging Trump Jr. to defer to health professionals rather than politicizing the president’s diagnosis.
“Didn’t take long for the internet trolls to spread misinformation about cancer. There are plenty of oncologists and urologists who can give you accurate info about prostate cancer if you’d like,” another user added pointedly.
While Trump Jr. was condemned for fueling rumors, Donald Trump Sr. struck a far more respectful tone.
Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” the former president wrote on Truth Social, adding, “We wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.
According to Newsner, other Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, also responded with sympathy.
“Cancer is truly awful,” she posted, revealing her own father passed away from cancer in 2021.
However, not all voices in the MAGA wing followed suit.
Former White House physician Ronny Jackson criticized Biden’s medical team, accusing them of prioritizing political optics over care.
Far-right activist Laura Loomer went even further, falsely claiming that Biden has been terminally ill “for a long time,” without offering any evidence.