Rhianna Benson
Donald Trump is today being ridiculed for a nonsensical remark he made about Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis.
Following long-standing rumours that the Republican's presidential predecessor had been suffering ill health behind the scenes, 82-year-old Biden's team confirmed his diagnosis in an emotional statement released on Sunday (18 May).
The former Democratic leader's message read: "Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms.
"On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterised by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone."
Advert
Biden's message continued: "While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.
"The president and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians."
In the hours after the left-wing former leader's diagnosis hit global headlines, his political opponent Trump, 78, issued a response on Truth Social.
"Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis," the father-of-five wrote.
"We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery."
Trump also discussed Biden's cancer diagnosis during a press conference earlier today (20 May).
Unfortunately for the president, however, his speech was somewhat tainted by a pretty embarrassing error that implied Trump was struggling to get his head around the different stages of cancer.
"Well, I think it's very sad actually," he began of Biden's diagnosis.
"I'm surprised that it wasn't, you know, the public wasn't notified a long time ago because to get to stage nine, that's a long time."
For those in need of a reminder, there's no 'stage nine' - the stages only go up to four. It may well be that Trump was actually thinking of Gleason scores - a grading system specifically used in cases of prostate cancer.
For context, a score of nine on the Gleason scale means that the cancerous cells 'look very abnormal', as per Cancer Research, and is 'likely to grow quickly'.
Having failed to realise his mistake, Trump then continued with his speech, turning the conversation back to himself: "I just had my physical.
"You saw that? You saw the results of that particular test. I think that test is standard to pretty much anybody getting a physical, good physical, and it takes a long time to get to that situation.
"Now, I think to get to stage 9, I think that, if you take a look, it's the same doctor that said that Joe was cognitively fine.
"There was nothing wrong with him. Well, he said, if it's the same doctor, he said there was nothing wrong there, and that's being proven to be a sad situation."
The cringe-worthy blunder didn't go unnoticed by a number of spectators - many of whom went on to express their amusement online.
"Stage 9? I’m learning something new…" one jibed.
Another teased: "Which stage 9 is that? Is that something new... probably wasn't taught in nursing school when I was there. Smfh."
"Is really saying stage 9 that confidently," a third poked fun at Trump.