Former Vice President Kamala Harris said during an interview on Sunday that she reached out to former President Joe Biden after learning he was undergoing radiation therapy to treat his prostate cancer.
But when she did, the call didn’t go as she may have expected.
Harris told left-wing MSNBC host Eugene Daniels that she called Biden but that her call wasn’t picked up and instead went to voicemail.
“I called him earlier,” she said, leading Daniels to ask how Biden is doing on his treatment.
“I have not talked to him. I just left him a message,” Harris responded.
Earlier this month, Harris continued to incorrectly claim that the 2024 presidential election was the “closest” of the 21st Century before standing up and shouting that President Donald Trump “does not have a mandate” during her weekend book tour stop in Houston.
“Here’s the other thing that is quite unprecedented — and it was the tightest, closest presidential election in the 21st Century,” Harris said at a venue promoting her new book, “107 Days.” “He does not have a mandate! That is not a mandate! That is not a mandate!”
The outburst drew loud cheers from the audience, with one attendee shouting back, “And he never did!”
Biden has begun a new phase of treatment for an aggressive form of cancer that was diagnosed in May, a spokesperson said Saturday.
“As part of a treatment plan for prostate cancer, President Biden is currently undergoing radiation therapy and hormone treatment,” the spokesperson for the former president said.
The radiation therapy, expected to last five weeks, marks a new phase in former President Joe Biden’s treatment, a source familiar with his care told NBC News. Biden has also been taking an oral hormone medication as part of his ongoing cancer regimen.
Last month, the 82-year-old underwent a skin cancer procedure known as Mohs surgery, with a visible bandage on his forehead during subsequent public appearances. Following the procedure, his physician stated in a memo that “all cancerous tissue was successfully removed” and that “no further treatment is required.”
Biden announced in May that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones. At the time, his office said he was pursuing multiple treatment options aimed at ensuring “effective management” of the disease, NBC News reported.
In a post on X after he shared his diagnosis, Biden said, “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
At the time of his diagnosis, several oncologists told NBC News that given the aggressive nature of the cancer and the fact that it had already metastasized, it was likely that Biden’s illness had gone undetected for years. Men in his age group are typically not screened for prostate cancer, as the American Cancer Society recommends testing every two years for men in their 50s and 60s. It remains unclear whether Biden was screened for prostate cancer during his final medical exam in office last year.
Biden, who turns 83 next month, is reportedly “doing well,” according to those familiar with his condition.
In 2023, while still in office, Biden underwent the removal of a skin lesion during a routine physical exam that was later confirmed to be cancerous. His physician said at the time that no further treatment was necessary.
Biden left office in January, several months after suspending his re-election campaign and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him. His campaign and the final months of his presidency were dogged by allegations that he was too old to seek another term and that he was not mentally fit for office—claims the former president and his family have consistently denied.