Trump Fuels Cover-Up Claims Over Biden's Cancer

Ex-president's diagnosis comes amid fresh questions over his health while in office

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WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump fueled speculation on May 19 that former president Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis was covered up, saying he was "surprised" the public was not told about his predecessor's condition earlier.

Republican Mr. Trump's extraordinary claim came just a day after it emerged that his bitter Democratic political rival, 82, had an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

Mr. Trump also tried to tie the issue into a wider political row sparked by a new book released this week - about whether Mr. Biden's White House covered up evidence of his cognitive decline while in office.

Mr. Biden had earlier on May 19 expressed gratitude for an outpouring of "love and support" following his shock diagnosis.

"I'm surprised that the public wasn't notified a long time ago," Mr. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked for his reaction to Mr. Biden's cancer.

"It takes a long time to get to that situation, to get to a stage nine," he added, apparently referring to the announcement by Mr. Biden's office that his cancer had "a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5)."

Prostate cancer that looks "very abnormal" is assigned the highest rating, Grade 5, according to the American Cancer Society.