President Joe Biden’s recent cancer diagnosis has stirred a whirlwind of emotions across the country — but not all of them are supportive.
While many Americans responded with concern and empathy, a shocking response came from progressive journalist Taylor Lorenz, who took to social media with a message that quickly went viral for all the wrong reasons.
Taylor Lorenz Faces Backlash for Disturbing Post
Instead of offering words of comfort, Lorenz, a former columnist for The Washington Post, reacted with vitriol.
She shared a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Hopefully he rots in hell and rests in piss.”
Alongside it, she posted a screenshot from a VICE News article that falsely quoted Biden on healthcare access.
The reaction online was swift and brutal. Critics from all sides of the political spectrum—Biden supporters, conservatives, and even centrists—condemned her for the harsh sentiment.
One person said Lorenz’s post was so outrageous that it managed to “unite the left and right” in collective disgust. Others branded her as “sick,” “twisted,” and accused her of spreading misinformation.
Doubling Down Despite the Outrage
Rather than walking back her statement, Lorenz stood her ground.
Now writing for a tech and culture platform called User Mag, she released a follow-up statement where she called Biden a “war criminal” and blamed him for “at least nearly 1 million deaths from Covid.”
She wasn’t alone in her rhetoric. Other far-left figures, such as BLM activist Shaun King, also made inflammatory remarks about Biden’s health.
King tweeted that he “never cared less” about someone’s cancer and wished pain upon the former president.
Social media influencer Hasan Piker also joined in, accusing the media of “laundering the reputation” of someone he called a genocidal leader.
Social Media Reacts with Outrage and Calls for Accountability
Unsurprisingly, Lorenz’s tweet opened the floodgates. Users blasted her for posting misinformation, especially given that the quote she shared was from a discredited source.
One user wrote, “Bruh, I don’t even like Biden and it’s obvious this is fake—it’s Vice.”
Others questioned her credibility as a journalist. Several people suggested her press credentials should be revoked altogether, citing her apparent lack of fact-checking and professionalism.
The criticism wasn’t limited to her journalism—people were attacking her character too.
Comments ranged from “you’re disgusting” to “you’re a waste of flesh.”
One even warned her, “If karma is real, you’re coming back as a toilet seat.”
Lorenz Expands on Her Accusations Against Biden
In what she claimed was a statement sent to a New York Post reporter, Lorenz doubled down yet again.
This time, she accused President Biden of “personally sanctioning the genocide of thousands of innocent Palestinians, including cancer patients.”
She pointed to Gaza’s only cancer hospital, which she claimed has been closed for over a year, leaving “nearly 10,000 cancer patients” without access to proper care.
Lorenz also alleged that Biden’s pandemic policies caused millions to lose healthcare, worsening the death toll.
She concluded with a provocative claim that Covid itself has been linked to cancer and said her “sympathies will always lie with the innocent people Biden has killed and disabled.”
There is no public or official evidence to support any of these accusations.
Biden’s Office Responds to Health Concerns
President Biden’s team confirmed last Friday that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had already spread to his bones—stage 4, the most advanced.
Doctors reportedly discovered a nodule on his prostate after he began experiencing urinary symptoms.
His office released a statement saying the cancer appeared “hormone-sensitive,” meaning it was treatable.
Biden and his family are now exploring treatment options.
Biden also took to X to thank the public for their support, sharing a photo of himself with First Lady Jill Biden. “Cancer touches us all,” he wrote.
“Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places.”
Political Rivals Weigh In, Trump Expresses Surprise and Skepticism
Donald Trump, Biden’s longtime rival, expressed surprise that the public wasn’t informed of the diagnosis earlier.
“To get to stage 9, that’s a long time,” Trump remarked—misstating the actual diagnosis, which was stage 4.
Despite the jab, Trump had previously expressed sympathy in a social media post the day before.
Other Republicans were more critical. Vice President JD Vance questioned whether Biden had been transparent with the public, especially considering the ongoing concerns about his mental fitness during his presidency.
Biden’s Health Adds to Questions Raised in New Book
Fueling the controversy further, a newly released book has revealed that many Democratic insiders and staffers were deeply concerned about Biden’s cognitive abilities during his reelection bid in 2024.
Although Biden made several public appearances to defend himself—including an interview on The View where he said, “There’s nothing to sustain that”—the perception persisted.
In July 2024, Biden dropped his bid for reelection after a stumbling debate performance against Trump.
Vice President Kamala Harris attempted to take the reins but ultimately lost to Trump in the general election.
Final Thoughts: When Health News Becomes Political
Biden’s cancer diagnosis was a deeply personal announcement, but in today’s hyper-political climate, even health news becomes a battleground.
Taylor Lorenz and others’ reactions sparked a fierce debate—not just about Biden, but about the boundaries of public discourse, journalistic ethics, and the role of personal bias in media.
What could have been a moment of unity instead became a lightning rod for division, revealing just how polarized the political landscape remains—even in moments of human vulnerability.