Biden says late son Beau “should’ve been president”

Former U.S. President Joe Biden has said that his late son, Beau Biden, should have been the one to become president instead of him. Biden made the emotional remark while addressing members of the Nebraska Democratic Party at the Ben Nelson Gala on Friday, where he also appeared with a fresh bandage on the left side of his head.

During the speech, Biden reflected on Beau’s military service in Iraq and his death from brain cancer in 2015. He linked his son’s illness to exposure to toxic burn pits, while criticizing the current administration for what he described as cuts to cancer research funding.

“When the love of my life, my oldest son, who was the attorney general of Delaware and should’ve been the president, not me, volunteered to go to Iraq for a year, he came back with stage four glioblastoma,” Biden said.

The former president, who earlier this year confirmed he is undergoing treatment for stage four prostate cancer, praised advances in cancer research and medical care. He then accused President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers of reducing government support for healthcare while offering tax breaks to wealthy Americans.

Biden also condemned what he called the administration’s role in worsening hunger among vulnerable families during the ongoing federal government shutdown, urging that “the damn government” be reopened immediately to restore funding for vital programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The bandage on Biden’s head drew attention during the event. In August, he underwent Mohs surgery for skin cancer, though the cause of the new bandage has not been disclosed.

Biden ended his address by highlighting recent Democratic gains in state elections across the U.S., declaring that the results signaled renewed momentum for the party.