McCain’s father, the late Sen. John McCain, battled glioblastoma, the same brain cancer that killed Biden’s son Beau
NEED TO KNOW
- Joe Biden visited The View in December 2017, where he comforted Meghan McCain months after her father, late Sen. John McCain, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the same cancer that killed Biden’s son Beau
- “There is hope and if anybody can make it, your dad [can],” Biden told Meghan at the time as the co-host wiped tears from her face
- Biden shared his own cancer diagnosis on Sunday, May 18, sharing that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer, which had metastasized to his bones
An emotional exchange in which former President Joe Biden comforted Meghan McCain on The View after her father was diagnosed with cancer is going viral in the wake of Biden’s own stage 4 prostate cancer diagnosis.
In the clip, which is from a December 2017 episode of the daytime talk show, Biden, 82, shared reassuring words with Meghan, 40, as former Arizona Sen. John McCain battled glioblastoma, which he was first diagnosed with in July 2017. The disease is the same aggressive form of brain cancer that ultimately killed Biden’s oldest son Beau, who died at age 46 in 2015.
Biden took Meghan’s hand on The View while she wiped away tears, and encouraged her to stay optimistic despite her father’s diagnosis. Biden recalled how Beau insisted on having hope and told his father not to talk about survival rates or percentages.
“There is hope and if anybody can make it, your dad [can],” Biden told Meghan on The View, adding, “Her dad is one of my best friends.”
In an emotional moment, Joe Biden consoles Meghan McCain, whose father was diagnosed with the same cancer as Biden’s late son Beau: “There is hope. And if anybody can make it, your dad [can].” pic.twitter.com/5IyS0qAgws
— The View (@TheView) December 13, 2017
He then joked, “We’re like two brothers who were somehow raised by different fathers,” poking fun at his political differences with the late senator.
In August 2018, John died of glioblastoma at age 81.
Meghan looked back on her special bond with Biden in 2020, writing on X at the time that knowing the former president made her “a better person.” She also said that Biden helped her the day before John’s death.
“Joe called me to check in, talked me through what it was going to happen soon and then prayed with me,” Meghan shared. “It gave me the strength to keep on.”
She wrote in another post, “I know who Joe is when the cameras aren’t rolling. He didn’t need to help me but did. His counsel didn’t end when my father left me. He has been a beacon of light and hope for me and so many dealing with the grotesque primal pain of losing the person you love most in the world.”
Now, Biden’s words of comfort to McCain on The View years ago are recirculating online following his diagnosis of an “aggressive” form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to the bone, according to a statement released by his team on Sunday, May 18.
“The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians,” the statement shared.
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Meghan offered her own words of support for the Biden family after the former president’s diagnosis was publicly announced.
She wrote on X May 18, “Cancer is the absolute worst. It is hell. It is incredibly difficult for any family, anywhere that has to deal with it.”
Meghan continued, “Wishing nothing but healing, prayers, light and strength to President Biden and his family. I don’t believe times like these are appropriate for politics.”
In another post to X, Meghan took shots at people theorizing that those closest to Joe had engaged in a “cover-up” of his illness.
“I don’t know if it’s just my bias or background but I don’t want to hear anything else about Biden’s health coverup, tell all’s, interviews with staff etc.,” Meghan wrote. “Let the Biden family be in peace right now. This is all just so sad and imprudent.”
Shortly after she shared her message, Donald Trump Jr. accused former first lady Dr. Jill Biden of either failing to be attentive to Joe or taking part in a “coverup” to hide her husband’s diagnosis.
