Former US Senator Ben Sasse has announced that he has been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, describing the illness as a “death sentence” in a deeply personal message shared on social media. The 53-year-old, who represented Nebraska in the Senate from 2015 to 2023, said the cancer has metastasised and is at stage four.
In a post published on X, Sasse addressed growing speculation about his health before confirming the diagnosis directly. Writing with stark honesty, he said he had been diagnosed the previous week and acknowledged the severity of the disease, while also reflecting on mortality more broadly. Despite the grim prognosis, he stressed that he does not intend to give up without a fight.
Sasse framed his announcement through the lens of his Christian faith, noting that the period leading up to Christmas is traditionally a time of hope and reflection. He wrote that, as a believer, the Advent season encourages him to focus on what lies beyond the present moment, even as he faces a life-threatening illness.
A prominent Republican voice during his time in Congress, Sasse was widely known for his willingness to criticise former President Donald Trump, particularly over threats to democratic institutions. His most defining moment in the Senate came after the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol, when he was one of seven Republican senators to vote to convict Trump on charges of inciting insurrection during the former president’s second impeachment trial. Although the vote fell short of the threshold needed for conviction, Sasse argued at the time that Congress had a duty to draw clear constitutional lines and resist the overreach of executive power.
Despite his public disagreements with Trump, Sasse often supported Republican policy priorities and was considered a conservative intellectual within the party. A graduate of Harvard and Yale, he built a reputation as a thoughtful legislator with a strong interest in constitutional norms and civic responsibility.
After leaving the Senate, Sasse took on the role of president of the University of Florida. His tenure, however, was relatively short. He stepped down in July 2024, citing the need to focus on his family after his wife suffered a stroke. Following his departure, a review by the Florida Auditor General raised concerns about his use of university funds. Sasse has denied any wrongdoing, saying his spending was appropriate.
Sasse and his wife are parents to three children. In his announcement, he indicated that he plans to speak more publicly about his condition in the future, making clear that while the diagnosis is devastating, he intends to face it with resolve.
The disclosure has prompted an outpouring of reactions from across the political spectrum, with many acknowledging both the seriousness of his illness and the impact he had during a turbulent period in US politics.
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