First Lady Jill Biden told The Jamie Kern Lima Show on August 17 that she prays to her late stepson Beau and sometimes visits his gravesite as she and the family cope with President Joe Biden’s stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which has reportedly spread to his bones. She described calling on Beau when she feels overwhelmed and confirmed caregiving has become a constant concern. The remarks follow her June memoir and earlier comments about the daily burdens of caring for an 83-year-old living with cancer.
Jill Biden Says She Prays to Late Stepson Beau, Pleads for His Help as Joe Battles Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Credit: Getty Images
First Lady Jill Biden offered a personal and emotional update about her husband’s health during an August 17 appearance on The Jamie Kern Lima Show. As President Joe Biden continues treatment for stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which his son Hunter has said has metastasized to his bones, Jill described leaning on the memory of her late stepson Beau for comfort and strength.
Daily Prayer and Private Rituals
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is sworn in during the public ceremony as Dr. Jill Biden and Beau Biden look on during Barack Obama's presidential inauguration on January 21, 2013 in Washington, D.C.Credit: Getty Images
"Every morning, I pray to Beau, you know, and I think he listens," Jill told host Jamie Kern Lima. Beau Biden, Joe’s son from his first marriage, died of brain cancer in May 2015 at age 46.
Jill said she sometimes calls out to Beau when she feels frightened or frustrated by Joe’s pain and the progression of his illness. "When I feel that, I need to go to the cemetery and talk to him and hope he listens," she said, describing visits to Beau’s gravesite as a source of solace.
Context and Family Perspective
The interview follows the June release of Jill Biden’s memoir, View From the East Wing, and renewed public attention to the president’s condition after family statements about its seriousness. Jill has described Joe’s cancer as aggressive and acknowledged the ongoing demands of caregiving.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden talks to his son, U.S. Army Captain Beau Biden at Camp Victory on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq on July 4, 2009.Credit: Getty Images
Speaking on Today in June, she described the practical burdens of caring for an 83-year-old man living with cancer: worrying about whether he is eating properly, getting enough exercise, and taking medications on schedule. The family has signaled they expect Joe may live with cancer for the foreseeable future while receiving treatment and support.
Family Background
Beau Biden, Hunter Biden, and Ashley Biden watch their father Joe Biden speaks on stage during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 6, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina.Credit: Getty Images
Joe Biden and his first wife, Neilia, lost their daughter Naomi and Neilia herself in a 1972 car accident. Joe later had sons Beau and Hunter with Neilia; Beau’s death in 2015 remains an emotional touchstone for the family. Jill and Joe married in 1977 and share a daughter, Ashley Biden.
Jill’s comments underscore the private grief and public responsibilities the Bidens are balancing as they support the president through treatment and ongoing care.
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