In his first public remarks since being diagnosed with cancer two weeks ago, former President Joe Biden defended his decision to run for reelection as questions swirled over his mental fitness to perform the job of president.

Biden revealed on Friday that he had begun treatment for stage four prostate cancer, telling reporters that he felt “optimistic” it would prove successful despite the disease spreading to his bones. He said the treatment starts with taking a pill for the next six weeks.

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“The expectation is we’re going to be able to beat this. It’s not in any organ. My bones are strong. So feeling good,” Biden said.

Biden made the comments after speaking at a Memorial Day service in New Castle, Delaware, that coincided with the 10-year anniversary of his eldest son Beau dying of an aggressive form of brain cancer in 2015.

The elder Biden’s cancer announcement followed the publication of a tell-all book about Democratic concerns regarding his age and mental acuity, with journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson alleging a White House cover-up of his capabilities.

Biden said he had no regrets about his decision to seek reelection in 2024 while reiterating he was “very proud” of his presidency. He bowed out of the presidential race only after a disastrous debate performance against President Donald Trump, with senior Democratic officials urging him to withdraw.

“Why didn’t they run against me then?” Biden said when asked about the Democrats questioning today whether he should have run in the first place. “Because I would’ve beat them.”

“I’ll put my record as president against any president at all,” he said.

Addressing the questions about his fitness directly, Biden said, smiling, “You can see that I’m mentally incompetent and I can’t walk.”

Since the bombshell book, Original Sin, Biden’s White House aides and physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, have come under scrutiny for their transparency regarding the former president’s age-related decline.

O’Connor, Biden’s personal physician for years, reportedly had concerns about the former president’s health but repeatedly declared him “fit for duty” during his administration.

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Republicans in Congress have since launched investigations and hearings into the White House’s handling of Biden’s mental acuity.

Biden made his first public appearance since the cancer diagnosis last Friday, attending the high school graduation of his grandson, Robert Hunter Biden II, in Salisbury, Connecticut.