Joe Biden took the stage in Nebraska Friday night with a visible head bandage, delivering a passionate speech that was part personal reflection, part political smackdown - and all aimed at Donald Trump.
Speaking at the Nebraska Democratic Party’s Ben Nelson Gala, the former president invoked the memory of his late son, Beau Biden, to criticize what he called Trump's dangerous cuts to cancer research, per the New York Post.
“Folks, I know what cancer research means,” Biden said, referring to both personal and national stakes. “Cancer hits every family. It’s hit my family hard.”
Biden gets personal: “He should’ve been the president, not me”
In a quiet but powerful moment, Biden opened up about his late son Beau, the former Delaware attorney general who died of brain cancer in 2015 after serving in Iraq.
“When the love of my life, my oldest son, the attorney general of the state of Delaware – who should’ve been the president, not me – volunteered to go to Iraq for a year, didn’t have to, he came back with stage four glioblastoma because he lived in a burn pit just like those guys did on 9/11, and he died,” Biden said.
The crowd at the gala listened intently as Biden drew a direct line between his personal loss and public policy - accusing Trump of undermining cancer research initiatives that had once been prioritized under Biden’s own administration.
Joe Biden is battling cancer. Credit: Scott Eisen / Getty
Battling cancer himself, Biden points to medical breakthroughs
Biden, who revealed earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer, also referenced his own recent medical battle during the speech.
“But when you get that research they’re doing, when they diagnose it – in my case, I just had prostate cancer – so, and, I, uh, when you finish that round of treatment, you get to ring that bell at the end of each treatment,” Biden said.
“Well, thank God for the doctors and nurses and incredible breakthroughs we’re making in cancer research.”
Then he hit back at Republicans: “Now, Trump and his Republican friends are cutting government funding for health care, making it more expensive.”
Biden has hit out at Trump. Credit: Scott Eisen / Getty
Mysterious head bandage adds to public curiosity
Adding another layer of intrigue to the event was Biden’s appearance: the 82-year-old showed up with what looked like a fresh bandage on the top-left side of his head. The cause of the new bandage is currently unclear.
Back in August, he underwent Mohs surgery to treat skin cancer, and was previously seen with a different bandage and a healing wound on another part of his scalp.
Slamming GOP budget cuts: “Why in God’s name are they doing this?”
Biden didn’t hold back as he tore into Trump-era budget decisions and accused the GOP of slashing healthcare to benefit the rich.
“Why in God’s name are they doing this?” he shouted. He argued that these cuts were all part of a strategy “to cut taxes for the wealthiest people in America.”
When he turned to the issue of hunger in the U.S., Biden’s frustration exploded.
“In the United States of America, 1 in 5 children, 1 in 5 children, go to bed hungry every night!” he shouted.
As the crowd booed, Biden responded: “No, no, it’s more than ‘boo’ … it’s a disgrace!”
Joe Biden was spotted with a wound on his head. Credit: Instagram/Fred Karger
On the shutdown: “Trump better get the damn government open”
The ex-president also addressed the prolonged government shutdown and placed the blame squarely on Trump’s shoulders.
Trump “better get the damn government open,” Biden fumed, while highlighting the damage caused to programs like SNAP.
“We have a president who is deliberately making hunger worse for Americans,” he said, linking the funding lapse to real-world struggles faced by millions.
Republicans, however, continue to argue that it’s Senate Democrats who have blocked measures to restore government funding at pre-shutdown levels.
Riding the blue wave: “The Democratic Party is back”
Despite the serious tone, Biden closed his speech with a shot of optimism - celebrating recent wins in state elections as proof of Democratic momentum.
“The Democratic Party is back – not hyperbole,” he declared. “The fact is that we had a great night in Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, New York City, Georgia, Mississippi, – even in Mississippi.”
He framed the victories as a clear message from voters across the country: “sending a message to Trump and to his crowd.”