Joe Biden makes first public appearance since cancer diagnosis — but Jill keeps low profile

Joe Biden made his first public appearance since being diagnosed with prostate cancer but his wife, Jill kept a low profile.

The former president appeared in good spirits, although he coughed several times throughout the speech at a Memorial Day service in Delaware.

Mrs Biden, who has been under intense scrutiny following the publication of a book which claimed her husband’s declining mental state was covered up during his time in the White House, stayed under the radar.

The book, Original Sin, by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, painted a picture of Mrs Biden silencing critics and rising to become “one of the most powerful first ladies in history,” managing the White House behind the scenes.

The couple have in recent months presented a united front, posing for a selfie together with their cat Willow, following the announcement of Mr Biden’s cancer, and joining the hosts of The View for a joint interview.

The controversial View interview ruffled some feathers, with Mrs Biden accused of speaking over her husband, finishing his sentences, and secretly communicating with him to stop speaking.

Although the couple were pictured arriving at Veterans Memorial Park, Newcastle, on Friday, Mrs Biden was nowhere to be seen as her husband stepped behind the podium.

She also did not appear to be sitting in the front few rows when he stepped away to sit back down. In other similar public appearances Mrs Biden has stood or sat nearby her husband, often greeting him once off-stage.

Giving an impassioned speech, Mr Biden paid tribute to his late son Beau, who died of brain cancer 10 years ago.

“This day is the 10th anniversary of the loss of my son Beau, who spent a year in Iraq. And to be honest, it’s a hard day,” he said.

“Being with all of you, quite frankly, makes things a little bit easier, it really does. So, thank you for allowing me to grieve with you,” he said.

Mr Biden also applauded the US armed forces, and those who died in action.

“Folks, every year we come together to remember, to remember, to remember the brave women and men who gave their all for this nation, or as Lincoln called it, the last full measure of devotion.

“That’s what it was, the last full measure of devotion. They laid down their lives so we could live our lives in peace,” he said.

“Only around one per cent of all Americans defend 99 per cent of us,” he added. “Just one per cent of Americans risk the ultimate sacrifice. We owe them so much more than we can ever repay them.”

Despite his diagnosis of late-stage prostate cancer, the 82-year-old former president appeared more forceful and vigorous than he had been in a while, particularly more-so than when he was the Democratic candidate, before being replaced by Kamala Harris.

Claims that it was Mrs Biden who orchestrated the alleged cover-up of her husband’s mental and physical decline show no sign of evaporating.

The White House stepped into the fray with Karoline Leavitt, Mr Trump’s press secretary, launching a personal attack on Mrs Biden.

“Frankly, the former first lady should certainly speak up about what we saw in regard to her husband and when she saw it and what she knew,” Ms Leavitt said.

“Because I think anybody looking, again, at the videos and photo evidence of Joe Biden with your own eyes and a bit of common sense can see this is a clear cover-up and Jill Biden was definitely complacent in that cover-up.”

She added: “They were just on The View last week. She was saying everything is fine. She’s still lying to the American people. She still thinks the American public are so stupid … And frankly, it’s insulting and she needs to answer for it.”