Biden consoles an emotional Meghan McCain over father's cancer

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday consoled a teary-eyed Meghan McCain, whose father Sen. John McCain was diagnosed with the same type of cancer as his late son Beau Biden earlier this year, during an emotional exchange on ABC's "The View."

During an interview on "The View" Meghan McCain asked Biden about how he dealt with his son Beau Biden being diagnosed with glioblastoma, the same aggressive form of brain cancer that her father, the Republican Arizona lawmaker, announced he had in July.


"I think about Beau almost every day. I was told that this doesn't get easier. I know you and your family have been through tragedy that you can't conceive of," McCain said to the former vice president before breaking down in tears.

Biden, whose son was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2013 and passed away while his father was still serving as vice president two years later, quickly moved to console McCain. The former vice president, sitting at a table with McCain and her "The View" co-hosts, stood up from his chair and walked toward her.

In emotional moment on @TheView, Joe Biden consoles Meghan McCain, whose father was diagnosed with same cancer Biden's late son Beau had. "There is hope. And if anybody can make it, your dad [can]." pic.twitter.com/tQUy11X5sV — ABC News (@ABC) December 13, 2017

"There's a lot of hope," Biden said.

The vice president then told McCain that his son had found comfort in her father's strength, with the two sharing of them a personal connection.

"One of the things that gave Beau courage, my word, was John," he said. "You may remember, you were a little kid, your dad took care of my Beau ... Your dad became friends with Beau and Beau talked about your dad's courage, not about illness, but about his courage."

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Biden added that while the glioblastoma diagnosis was "about as bad as it gets," medical advancements were ongoing in the battle against cancer. And that McCain, a renowned-war veteran and congressional leader, would persevere.

"If anybody can make it, [it's] your dad," Biden said. "Her dad is one of my best friends."

Sen. John McCain responded to the heartfelt exchange by thanking the former vice president for his service on social media.

Thank you @JoeBiden & the entire Biden family for serving as an example & source of strength for my own family," McCain tweeted.

Biden, whose continued perseverance in the face of tragic personal loses has endeared him to millions, sent a similar message of comfort to McCain after he announced his diagnosis over the summer.

"John and I have been friends for 40 years. He's gotten through so much difficulty with so much grace. He is strong - and he will beat this," Biden tweeted in July.