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Former President Joe Biden, sporting a new bandage on his head, addressed Nebraska Democrats on Friday, expressing that his late son Beau, rather than himself, should have been elected as commander-in-chief in 2020. During his speech, he criticized President Trump, leveraging Beau’s 2015 death from brain cancer as a poignant point to highlight Trump’s alleged reduction in government funding for cancer research, a key focus during Biden’s administration.
“I truly understand the significance of cancer research,” Biden remarked at the Nebraska Democratic Party’s Ben Nelson Gala. “Cancer affects every family, and mine has not been spared from its impact.”
He continued, reflecting on his son’s service and sacrifice: “The love of my life, my eldest son, who served as Delaware’s attorney general and should have been president instead of me, volunteered for a year-long deployment to Iraq. He didn’t have to go, but he did. He returned with stage four glioblastoma after exposure to burn pits, similar to those at Ground Zero on 9/11, and it claimed his life,” he recounted somberly.
Biden also shared his own health struggles, mentioning his recent diagnosis with stage four prostate cancer, drawing a personal connection to the broader issue.
Biden, who was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer earlier this year, then referenced his own battle with the disease.
“But when you get that research, research, they’re, they’re doing, when they diagnose it – in my case, I just had prostate cancer – so, and, I, uh, when you finish that round of treatment, you get to ring that bell at the end of each treatment,” he said. “Well, thank God for the doctors and nurses and incredible breakthroughs we’re making in cancer research.”
“Now, Trump and his Republican friends are cutting government funding for health care, making it more expensive.”
Biden, who turns 83 on Nov. 20, appeared at the event wearing a seemingly new bandage on the top-left portion of his head. The reason for the new bandage is unclear.
In August, Biden underwent Mohs surgery, a procedure used to treat skin cancer, and appeared in public with a large bandage – and then a healing gash – on a different part of his head.
“Why in God’s name are they doing this?” Biden shouted as he continued to rail against the Trump administration budget cuts, arguing that the reason for them is to cut taxes for the “wealthiest people in America.”
The ex-president became particularly enraged when discussing the record-long government shutdown.
Trump “better get the damn government open,” Biden fumed.
“We have a president who is deliberately making hunger worse for Americans,” he charged, alluding to the funding lapse for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“In the United States of America, 1 in 5 children, 1 in 5 children, go to bed hungry every night!” Biden shouted.
When the crowd booed, the former president said: “No, no, it’s more than ‘boo’ … it’s a disgrace!”
Trump and Republicans blame Senate Democrats’ repeated refusal to vote in favor of a measure that would fund the government at pre-shutdown levels for the prolonged shutdown.
Biden also touted Tuesday’s Democratic wins in state elections, declaring, “The Democratic Party is back – not hyperbole.”
“The fact is that we had a great night in Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, New York City, Georgia, Mississippi, – even in Mississippi,” he said, arguing that the election results show voters are “sending a message to Trump and to his crowd.”