Former President Joe Biden says he would not have sought reelection in 2024 if he had known he was experiencing symptoms of cancer, while dismissing his widely criticized debate performance against Donald Trump as inconsequential.

“If I had known that I was feeling lousy because I had cancer, I would have not gone forward because I don’t think an 80-year-old man with cancer should be running,” Biden told [People magazine](https://people.com/joe-biden-new-interview-video-exclusive-12247044) in an interview released Wednesday.

The former president announced in May 2025, four months after leaving the White House, that he had Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer. The diagnosis drew an outpouring of support but also prompted questions about why the disease had not been detected earlier and whether it contributed to his apparent decline near the end of his presidency.

Shortly after the announcement, President Donald Trump said he was surprised the public had not been notified sooner, pointing to Biden’s Gleason score of 9, a measure used to assess prostate cancer.

Biden had not been screened for prostate cancer since 2014. U.S. guidelines have long recommended against routine screening for men once they reach their 70s.

In the interview, Biden also minimized the significance of his June 2024 debate against Trump. His halting performance intensified concerns about his ability to campaign and govern, leading to mounting calls from fellow Democrats for him to withdraw. He left the party’s ticket the following month.

“To me, it was not very consequential,” Biden said. He added that he had expected another debate, which did not take place.

Biden’s son Hunter has said he believes the cancer was responsible for the debate performance. Among those who backed efforts for Biden to step aside was former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime ally.

The interview came ahead of next week’s release of Biden’s memoir, “Promise Me, America.” Biden wrote Sunday on X that his cancer would limit the number of conversations he could hold about the book.

Still, he told People that he feels good and retains his faculties. “I’m not saying I’ll live forever,” he said, adding that he has access to the abilities he had before.