— Former President Joe Biden recently underwent Mohs surgery, a targeted procedure for treating skin cancer, his spokesperson confirmed after he was seen wearing a bandage on his head near Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. No further details about the lesion were released.
Key Takeaways
- Joe Biden recently had Mohs surgery to treat a skin lesion, confirmed by a spokesperson on Sept. 4, 2025.
- The procedure is commonly used to remove skin cancers while preserving healthy tissue.
- Biden was photographed with a head bandage in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware; media reports flagged the sighting.
- He has a documented history of non-melanoma skin cancers, including a basal cell carcinoma removed in February 2023.
- First Lady Jill Biden also underwent Mohs surgery after a lesion was found in January 2023.
- Separately, Biden announced a May 2025 diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer that had spread to bone.
Verified Facts
On Sept. 4, 2025, a White House spokesperson told reporters that Biden recently had Mohs micrographic surgery, a precise surgical technique used to excise skin cancer. The office did not specify the exact date of the procedure, the lesion’s pathology, or whether additional treatment will be required.
Observers noted a visible bandage on Biden’s head when he was filmed leaving a church in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware; a tabloid outlet published footage of the appearance. The presence of a bandage is consistent with minor excisions and post-operative dressing placement following dermatologic surgery.
Records show this is not Biden’s first encounter with non-melanoma skin cancer. During a February 2023 physical, a lesion removed from his chest was diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma; his physician at that time, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, reported all cancerous tissue was removed and recommended continued dermatologic surveillance.
First Lady Jill Biden also received Mohs surgery in January 2023 to remove a lesion above her right eye discovered during routine screening. Those earlier treatments and the recent procedure reflect ongoing skin-health monitoring in both cases.
Context & Impact
Mohs surgery is frequently used for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas because it aims to remove all cancerous tissue while sparing healthy skin, which is especially important on the head and face. For public figures, such procedures often prompt heightened attention and speculation; officials typically release limited medical detail to protect privacy.
The announcement comes months after the administration disclosed President Biden’s May 2025 diagnosis of an aggressive prostate cancer that had metastasized to bone. That diagnosis has led to additional public focus on his overall health and medical care plan.
Clinicians say routine skin checks are a standard part of care for people with prior skin cancers. Continued surveillance is the usual recommendation after Mohs surgery to detect any new or recurring lesions early.
Official Statements
“A spokesperson for Mr. Biden confirmed he recently underwent Mohs surgery to treat a skin lesion,”
White House spokesperson / ABC News report
“This surgery involves cutting away thin layers of skin. Each thin layer is looked at closely for signs of cancer,”
Mayo Clinic
Unconfirmed
- Specific diagnosis or pathology report from the recent procedure (type of skin cancer, margins, pathology) has not been disclosed.
- Exact date and clinical details of the surgery were not released by Biden’s office.
- Local video reports showing a bandage in Rehoboth Beach have been published by tabloid outlets; their interpretation of the footage is unverified.
Bottom Line
The White House confirmed a recent Mohs procedure for Joe Biden, consistent with his prior history of non-melanoma skin cancers and routine dermatologic care. No additional clinical details have been provided; physicians generally recommend continued skin surveillance after such procedures. Observers and medical experts say Mohs surgery is a standard, effective treatment for many skin cancers.