Hunter Biden said the cancer, which was diagnosed in May 2025, has metastasised beyond his father’s bones and is “very painful” and “very debilitating in many respects”.
“It’s really, really hard, and it’s really sad to watch,” Hunter Biden told the BBC’s Newsnight in an interview broadcast on Friday.
“I wish he would complain more, because it’s not good,” he said, adding that the former president remained active and engaged despite his illness.
Biden, 83, announced in May 2025 that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had already spread to his bones. His spokesman said later that year that he was undergoing radiation treatment and hormone therapy.
The former president was the oldest person to win the US presidency when he was elected in 2020. His physical health and mental acuity became a major focus during his presidency, particularly after his poor performance in a June 2024 debate against Donald Trump contributed to his decision to abandon his re-election campaign.
Hunter Biden also reflected on his father’s health during the BBC interview, describing him as the centre of their family and praising his resilience.
“He’s the best father, the best husband, the best grandfather,” Hunter Biden said.
He added that Biden remained determined to continue speaking publicly and engaging with issues important to him.
The interview also covered Hunter Biden’s controversial presidential pardon, which his father granted in December 2024 shortly before leaving office.
Hunter Biden acknowledged that the pardon was open to criticism and said he understood arguments that it was not good for the American people, the Constitution or his father’s legacy. However, he said he remained “eternally grateful” to his father for the decision.
The pardon covered Hunter Biden’s federal gun conviction, a tax case and potential federal offences dating from 2014 to 2024.
Hunter Biden also discussed his past struggles with addiction, saying he wanted to focus his future efforts on helping others recover from drug and alcohol dependence rather than seeking elected office.
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