Donald Trump is facing widespread mockery online after making a significant gaffe during a press conference, where he claimed that former President Joe Biden had Stage 9 cancer, a stage that does not exist in medical terminology.
“I think it’s very sad,” Trump said. “Actually, I’m surprised that, you know, the public wasn’t notified a long time ago because to get to stage 9, that’s a long time. I just had my physical.”
He went on to say that he aced a full physical, including cognitive tests, and questioned why Biden’s last physical did not include similar cognitive tests.
Social media users were quick to point out the blunder, questioning both the accuracy of Trump’s statement and his own claims of cognitive prowess. Many speculated that Trump had confused Stage 4 cancer with Biden’s Gleason score of 9, a grading system used to assess the aggressiveness of prostate cancer by examining cancer cells under a microscope.
Adding to the confusion, Donald Trump Jr. had recently tweeted about a Stage 5 diagnosis, another non-existent cancer stage. Most cancers are staged from 0 to 4, with stage 4 indicating the most advanced form, often referred to as metastatic or advanced cancer.
What social media is saying about Trump’s gaffe
“He's clearly talking about a Gleason score of 9, which indicates a higher-grade of prostate cancer,” one user explained.
“Wait, stage 9, what’s he talking about?” another asked.
“BTW: Most types of cancer are staged using a system of 0 to 4, with 4 being the most advanced. The stage of cancer indicates how much the cancer has grown and spread. Stages are often denoted with Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV),” one user pointed out.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WTF? <br/><br/>Did he just say Stage 9? <br/> <a href="https://t.co/jisU4c7LPG">pic.twitter.com/jisU4c7LPG</a></p>— Lucas Sanders ����️���������� (@LucasSa56947288) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucasSa56947288/status/1924577609934860635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“9 on the Gleason scale is probably what he really meant. Biden is stage 4B,” another chimed in.
“This man could walk out with a tin foil hat on and I wouldn’t care,” one user wrote sarcastically.
Others came to Trump’s defense. “So he made a mistake. He is not a doctor. The Gleason scale on Biden was 9. Mine was over 10 a year ago. I'm cured. Not everyone is cured. Biden needs to repent and get right with God. Trump is fine, just made an error in a speech,” one person commented.
Now let's verify some facts
Is there a Stage 9 cancer?
No. There is no such thing as stage 9 cancer. Cancer stages typically range from 0 to 4. Trump may have confused the term with the Gleason score, which is used to grade the aggressiveness of prostate cancer.
Is there a Stage 5 cancer?
No. Cancer stages go from 0 to 4. The staging is based on how much the cancer has grown or spread in the body. The TNM staging system, the most commonly used, evaluates the tumour's size, its spread to nearby lymph nodes, and whether it has metastasized to distant parts of the body.
What is the stage of Joe Biden's cancer?
According to the official statement, Joe Biden has stage 4 prostate cancer, meaning the disease has spread to other parts of the body, including the bones.
How was his cancer detected
Biden’s diagnosis came after he suffered from urinary symptoms. Doctors found a “small nodule” on his prostate. While it is a more aggressive form of the disease, it is hormone-sensitive, which means it can be effectively managed. Biden and his family are currently reviewing treatment options with his medical team.
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