What you might not know about the American author
Despite his age and his previous failed presidential campaigns, Biden decided to run for president again. His decision was motivated by some of the worrying events he observed during Donald Trump's presidency.
Joe Biden was born in 1942 to Catholic parents. He's pictured here with his mother Catherine, who lived to be 94 years old.
In another blow to the Biden family, Beau died of brain cancer in 2015 at the age of 46.
Biden received the most votes of any US president in history, more than 76 million.
He considered resigning to care for his sons, but he was convinced not to as they were both predicted to make a full recovery. He was sworn into office in his son's hospital room.
Biden married his first wife, Neilia, in 1966. They had three children, Beau, Robert, and Naomi.
In December of 1972, Biden won his race to become senator of Delaware. He was 29 years old at the time, making him one of the youngest senators in history.
Biden spent several hours a day commuting to Washington for work so that he could see his sons every evening. He admits he had lost his appetite for politics and life itself at this point.
Joe Biden had already run for president twice. His first campaign was in 1987, but he decided to step down when several conflicts arose.
Joe Biden wasn't the only success story in his family. His eldest son Beau, who survived the car accident decades earlier, grew up to be a major in the US Army, and the Attorney General of Delaware.
One of his proudest achievements was his work on the Violence Against Women Act. The resulting federal law was groundbreaking in its acknowledgement of the seriousness of domestic abuse.
He was accused of plagiarism after he allegedly forgot to attribute the content of one of his speeches to the correct source. This became a huge scandal that impacted his campaign.
The Senate successfully kept the judge off the Supreme Court, so his choice was vindicated. However, within a few months he was in serious trouble with his health.
At the same time, he was serving as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and desperately trying to keep a conservative judge proposed by President Ronald Reagan off the Supreme Court. He decided to bow out of the presidential race and focus his efforts on one task.
He had a second aneurysm in April that year, but luckily he recovered. He refocused on his political career and served as a senator for the next two decades.
In 1988, Biden suddenly collapsed and was taken to hospital. It was discovered that he had a brain aneurysm and he quickly underwent brain surgery to remove it.
Many were happy to know that dogs were back at the White House again. Biden and his wife have two German Shepherds called Champ (pictured) and Major (a rescue dog). But unfortunately after a biting incident involving Major, both dogs had to move out.
His family and advisors say it was the violent clash in Charlottesville that really pushed him to action. A protest turned violent when a white nationalist drove his car into the crowd, resulting in the death of a young woman.
In an unprecedented war that began in 2023, Joe Biden supported Israel's actions in Gaza. After Iran retaliation's and support for the Palestinian people, the president directed the military to aid Israel's defense against potential future attacks, reaffirming the US' full support for its ally.
Sources: (The New York Times) (Independent) (Time) (PBS)
His presidency has been controversial, particularly due to his unyielding support of Israel and the war on Gaza. But the trials and tribulations of Joe Biden didn't begin in 2021.
As Joe Biden marks his 82nd birthday, here’s a glimpse into his career, family history, and his life before the White House.
Looking back at the life and presidency of Joe Biden
It's Joe Biden's birthday today!
CELEBRITY Politics
As Joe Biden prepares to step away from the White House, his long career has been marked by numerous ups and downs. Biden was first named president on January 20, 2021, after one of the most publicized and nerve-racking presidential elections in US history. He was, of course, no stranger to the public, having served eight years as vice president under Barack Obama.
His presidency has been controversial, particularly due to his unyielding support of Israel and the war on Gaza. But the trials and tribulations of Joe Biden didn't begin in 2021.
As Joe Biden marks his 82nd birthday, here’s a glimpse into his career, family history, and his life before the White House.