Joe Biden Opens up About Son Beau Biden’s Death: “He’s Still With Me”

This is heartbreaking. In a new interview, former Vice President Joe Biden opened up about his son Beau Biden's 2015 death from brain cancer — and touchingly recalled the final moments he shared with his eldest child. "[Beau] looked at me and he said, 'Dad, I’m not afraid. I’m okay.' It was at the very end. His brother, [Hunter Biden], was sitting there, the three of us were holding hands and [Beau] wanted to reassure us [that he was okay]," Joe recently told Oprah Winfrey on her talk show Super Soul Sunday.

Joseph Robinette "Beau" Biden III was born in February 1969 to Joe, now 74, and his late first wife, Neilia Biden. At age 44, Beau — who served as the Attorney General of Delaware and was a major in the Delaware Army National Guard — was sadly diagnosed with brain cancer and underwent chemotherapy and radiation. In May 2015, Beau was again hospitalized for a reoccurrence of his brain cancer and he died just 10 days later on June 6, 2015, at age 46. He left behind his wife, Hallie Biden, and their two young children, Natalie Biden and Hunter Biden.

Joe and Beau in 2008.

While speaking to Oprah, Joe remembered that Beau told his family several times not to worry about his health during his cancer battle. "I’d see him and he’s say, 'Dad, look at me. Stop looking sad… no matter what happens, I’m gonna be alright, Dad. You’ve got to look happy. You’ve got to look strong for the family,'" he said. "[Today], what I do is I look at my grandson — his son — and I see him. I look at my granddaughter, I see her. And I know [Beau]’s still here. He’s still with me."

Earlier this year, Joe and his wife, Jill Biden, confirmed that Beau's widow, Hallie, is now dating her late husband's brother, Hunter. Just months after Beau's death, Hunter, 47, split from his wife, Katheleen Biden, in October 2015. "We are all lucky that Hunter and Hallie found each other as they were putting their lives together again after such sadness. They have mine and Jill’s full and complete support and we are happy for them," Joe said of the romance.

Hunter, Hallie, Joe, and Natalie in 2015.

"Hallie and I are incredibly lucky to have found the love and support we have for each other in such a difficult time, and that’s been obvious to the people who love us most," Hunter similarly said in a statement in March 2017. "We’ve been so lucky to have family and friends who have supported us every step of the way."