Whoopi Goldberg is pleasantly surprised by the support from “both sides of the aisle” following Joe Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis.
The ladies of The View discussed the former president’s health update on Monday’s episode of the talk show, with Goldberg commending the outpouring of support from politicians who otherwise do not agree with Biden’s politics.
“We all wish you a rapid recovery and we’re thinking of you and your family during this diagnosis,” Goldberg said, addressing Biden and noting that the “diagnosis has been met with an outpouring of support on both sides of the aisle.”
Biden appeared on The View with wife Jill Biden less than two weeks ago.
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“It was surprising to see some of the people who wished them well and it made me feel better,” Goldberg continued, later adding, “When you read the names it was like, [gasps] ‘You said something good?’ Oh my god. it turns out that you have a heart. So there is reason to have faith. We actually all are suffering together in many ways so we’re not alone and that’s a good thing.”
President Donald Trump, who has consistently questioned Biden’s health and cognitive abilities since the 2024 campaign trail, was among the politicians who’ve sent the former president well wishes. “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery,” he said in a statement. Marco Rubio and Meghan McCain also sent support.
Goldberg also addressed claims from Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., that the diagnosis was “covered up” given the form of cancer. Biden, 82, was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 9, signaling a more aggressive form. His diagnosis was announced on Sunday. The former president has since made a statement on social media, writing, “Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
“What I want to point out to people is had this been the case when he was president, there’s no way you wouldn’t have known,” Goldberg said. “So this is not something he was carrying around or hiding.”
Ana Navarro noted that Biden has always been forthcoming about challenges. “The Joe Biden we know is a man who has been very open about his challenges in life,” Navarro said. “He didn’t need to tell us. He’s a private citizen now. I think he’s doing this to remind everybody that we can all be touched by cancer. They took us through the journey . . . every challenge that Joe and Jill Biden have faced in life they have taken the American people along to help us when we face the same challenges.”
Sunny Hostin, meanwhile, called out the current Trump administration’s recent cuts in federal funding for cancer research.
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“When he said cancer touches it all, it’s so true,” Hostin said. “I’m sure that every single person in the audience knows someone who has had cancer, is a survivor of cancer, or has died of cancer. I think the majority of U.S. families will feel for the Bidens.”
“I don’t think this is the time for politics, but what I will say is this administration has cut cancer funding research by 31 percent since 2025,” Hostin added. “And the U.S. being such a wealthy country seems to be cutting cancer research not only for the elderly but our children — I think that’s so despicable.”
The View airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on ABC.