Biden says ‘I feel good’ and ‘optimistic’ in 1st public comments about cancer treatment

Former President Joe Biden, after delivering first public remarks since his workplace introduced earlier this month that he had been recognized with ‘aggressive” prostate most cancers, informed reporters on Friday that he was feeling “optimistic” about his prognosis.

“Properly, the prognosis is sweet. , we’re engaged on every part. It is shifting alongside. So, I really feel good,” Biden stated.

He stated he had selected a therapy choice, mentioning that he can be taking varied drugs.

“The expectation is, we’re going to have the ability to beat this … it is not in any organ. My bones are robust. It hasn’t penetrated so I am feeling good,” he added, later saying his household can be optimistic concerning the analysis and stated “one of many main surgeons on the earth” is working with him.

The announcement from Biden’s workplace stated there was “metastasis to the bone.”

Requested concerning the current controversy over his psychological and bodily capabilities whereas in workplace, Biden joked, with a smile, “You may see that — I am mentally incompetent and I can not stroll.”

And requested about Democrats who say he should not have run once more, Biden stated, “Why did not they run in opposition to me then? As a result of I might have crushed them.” He added he has no regrets.

“There’s rather a lot occurring. And I believe we’re in a extremely tough second, not solely in American historical past, in world historical past. I believe we’re a type of inflection factors in historical past the place the selections we make within the subsequent little bit are going to find out what issues appear like for the subsequent 20 years,” he added, saying he’s happy with his file as president.

On Thursday, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt informed reporters that former first woman Jill Biden ought to “communicate up about what she noticed with regard to her husband and when she noticed it and what she knew,” accusing her of mendacity.

Requested about Leavitt’s feedback, Biden smiled and stated, “I do not know who the press secretary is,” however afterward stated he was joking and that the media would play that straightforwardly.

In his earlier formal remarks at a Memorial Day service in his residence state of Delaware, Biden stated that American politics have “turn out to be so divided and so bitter,” however that he sees the navy as united.

“My mates, Memorial Day is about one thing profound,” Biden stated. “Our politics have turn out to be so divided and so bitter — all of the years that I have been doing this, I by no means thought we might get thus far, however we’re. Our troops do not put on a uniform that claims I am a Democrat or I am a Republican; it says I am an American, I am an American, that is who I’m.”

Biden additionally known as his time because the commander in chief the best honor of his life, and highlighted the tenth anniversary of the passing of his son Beau – who served within the Delaware Military Nationwide Guard and died of brain cancer on Could 30, 2015, when he was 46 years outdated.

“The best honor [of] my life has been, for 4 years, of being the commander in chief, [of the] United States,” Biden stated, including a lighthearted apart that if he had come from one other state moreover Delaware, he would not suppose that might have occurred.

“I do know for a lot of of you, Memorial Day, like for us, is deeply private,” Biden stated solemnly later in his remarks. “For the Bidens, this present day is the tenth anniversary [of] the lack of my son Beau, [who] spent a 12 months in Iraq, and to be sincere, it is a exhausting day.”

He spoke about Beau becoming a member of him at Memorial Day providers, about Beau’s time within the Delaware Military Nationwide Guard and deployment to Iraq, and the time Beau requested his father to pin the bars on his navy uniform.

Beau’s legacy lives on in his youngsters and grandchildren, just like the legacies of the family members different attendees misplaced, Biden stated. “And identical to the legacy of all our fallen heroes lives on — they dwell on in us, they usually dwell on within the power and freedom of our nation. That appears like hyperbole, however it’s actual. It is literal.”

“So everybody, everybody who got here right here in the present day to grieve with grief in your coronary heart, please know you are not alone. You may by no means be alone, and the one you love won’t ever be forgotten. Interval,” Biden stated.

He informed attendees as properly that “being with all of you, fairly frankly, it makes issues a bit bit simpler. It actually does. So thanks for permitting me to grieve with you.”

After his remarks, Biden appeared visibly emotional when different elected officers talking on the occasion spoke about Beau Biden, praising who he was and his navy service.

Talking extra usually about Memorial Day, Biden informed attendees, “Of us, yearly we come collectively to recollect, to recollect, to recollect the courageous men and women who gave their all for this nation, or as Lincoln known as it, the final full measure of devotion,” Biden stated.

He added, “They laid down their lives so we might dwell our lives in peace, and perhaps a very powerful phrase with prospects. And I do know, I do know I communicate for everybody right here, and — after I say, we bear in mind them each single day, not simply this present day, however on daily basis.”

The previous president spoke forcefully about offering providers to veterans, saying that those that served and have handed deserve that honor.

“So in the present day, let’s renew our pledge to honor our heroes. I imply, sincerely renew our pledge to honor our heroes… I get actually offended after I hear about, [claims that] veterans are looking for an excessive amount of. They are not sufficient!” Biden stated, including that’s the reason he wrote laws referring to Gold Star households and others.

Biden’s remarks have been additionally his first after the discharge of the the book “Original Sin”, written by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, which alleges Biden had bodily and psychological impairments whereas president that have been coated up by folks in his internal circle.

Spokespeople for Biden have stated nothing in “Unique Sin” exhibits that Biden didn’t do his job or that there was any cover-up. Biden. In an appearance on ABC’s “The View” earlier this month, Biden pushed again on a slate of books making claims about his psychological acuity, with the previous president saying, “They’re incorrect. There’s nothing to maintain that.”

ABC Information’ Jon Garcia contributed to this report.