‘Surprised’ Trump questions timing of Biden’s cancer diagnosis

US President Donald Trump fuelled speculation Monday that Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis was covered up, saying he was “surprised” the public was not told about his predecessor’s condition earlier.

Republican Trump’s extraordinary claim came just a day after it emerged that his bitter Democratic political rival, 82, had an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

Trump also tried to tie the issue into a wider political row – sparked by a new book released this week – about whether Biden’s White House covered up evidence of his cognitive decline while in office.

Biden had earlier Monday expressed gratitude for an outpouring of “love and support” following his shock diagnosis.

“I’m surprised that the public wasn’t notified a long time ago,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked for his reaction to Biden’s cancer.