Just one day after former President Joe Biden revealed he’s battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt struck a tone that many online found jarring.
At a press briefing, Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked whether President Donald Trump was concerned about the quality of medical care available to U.S. presidents, given Biden’s late-stage diagnosis.
“White House doctors may have missed the early stages of his prostate cancer,” Doocy said. “Is President Trump worried about the quality of care that presidents get here?”
Leavitt, 27, quickly dismissed the concern. “Not as far as President Trump is concerned,” she replied.
“The White House physician we have here is phenomenal,” she continued. “And the team at Walter Reed Medical Center is excellent.”
Leavitt went on to tout Trump’s recent physical exam results. “He had perfect results. He’s in very good shape. I think those of you who traveled with us to the Middle East last week can attest to the president’s endurance.”
She added that Trump was back in the Oval Office working all day on Saturday, shortly after returning from that trip. “He doesn’t stop, he doesn’t quit, he’s in great health, and he trusts his physicians.”
While her comments may have been intended to reassure the public about Trump’s wellbeing, some viewers found the tone inappropriate so soon after Biden’s serious diagnosis.
“She came off as heartless and vindictive,” one commenter wrote. Another pointed out that Trump appeared to fall asleep multiple times during the trip Leavitt referenced.
The controversy follows Biden’s announcement that he has been diagnosed with a high-grade form of prostate cancer.According to a statement from his office, he had recently undergone an evaluation after experiencing urinary symptoms. Doctors discovered a prostate nodule, and further testing confirmed that the cancer had spread to his bones.
“This represents a more aggressive form of the disease,” the statement read. However, the cancer is said to be hormone-sensitive, which means it may respond well to treatment.
Biden’s cancer has been assigned a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5), one of the highest possible scores, indicating abnormal, fast-growing cells. While the exact stage of the cancer has not been made public, metastasis suggests it is at an advanced stage.
He and his family are currently weighing treatment options, which are likely to include hormone therapy. The former president is currently at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, and has not announced where he will undergo treatment.
Despite the seriousness of the diagnosis, some medical experts have expressed optimism.
“This is bread-and-butter genitourinary oncology,” said Dr. Alan Tan, a specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in an interview with NBC News. “Many patients with this type of cancer can go into remission with appropriate treatment.”