President Joe Biden prompted widespread confusion and concern when he appeared to say he has cancer during an address on climate change on Wednesday.
Now, White House officials have been forced to clear up the confusion, saying per The Telegraph that although the 79-year-old POTUS used the present tense, he had actually been referring to his previous treatment for skin cancer.
As reported by Bloomberg, "several small areas" of Biden's skin have been treated with liquid nitrogen cryotherapy, but doctors did not believe any were liable to produce skin cancer or that they needed biopsy.
Biden had reportedly had some localized skin cancers removed before he became president.
On Wednesday, he paid a visit to the Brayton Point power plant, an old coal-powered facility in Somerset, Massachusetts, which is making a shift to offshore wind manufacturing.
During his speech, the incumbent president spoke about his plans to take action on climate change.
"As president, I have a responsibility to act with urgency and resolve when our nation faces clear and present danger, and that's what climate change is about. It is literally, not figuratively, a clear and present danger," Biden said. "The health of our citizens and our communities is literally at stake."
However, one particular moment in his address saw the Democrat say that he has cancer. Biden said: “And guess what? The first frost, you know what was happening? You had to put on your windshield wipers to get literally the oil slick off the window.
"That’s why I and so damn many other people I grew up with have cancer and why for the longest time, Delaware had the highest cancer rate in the nation.”
Check out what he said below:In November 2021, Biden's personal physician confirmed that the POTUS was a "healthy, vigorous, 78 year old" who was fit to carry out his presidential duties, following a full medical evaluation, which saw him temporarily transfer his power over to Vice President Kamala Harris so that he could undergo a colonoscopy.
The evaluation went on for over five hours and took place at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The president underwent blood, physical, gastrointestinal, dental, vision and neurological examinations.