Meet Joe Bidens controversial brother Frank, who just said health absolutely played a role

Publish date: 2024-08-06

When asked if his 81-year-old brother’s health had anything to do with him backing out of the presidential race, he reportedly said, “In my humble opinion, absolutely.”

In a separate statement to ABC News, Frank reiterated the point, saying that his brother’s decision to leave the race “boils down” to his “overall health and vitality”, but also “beating this genuine threat to our nation in the form of Donald Trump”.However, a source close to the Biden family claimed that what Frank was saying was false. “Frank Biden suffers from alcoholism and hasn’t spoken to his brother in weeks. What he said … is completely untrue,” the source told CBS News.

Here’s what we know about Joe Biden’s brother, Frank:

Frank Biden’s early life

As reported by People, Joe Biden comes from a large family, being the eldest of four children. He has a sister, Valerie, and two brothers, James and Francis – aka Frank. Per The New York Times, the siblings grew up in a “modest” home in Wilmington, Delaware. The brothers all attended the University of Delaware, adds People.

“Joe’s the eldest, I’m the only [sister], Jimmy’s the joker, Frankie’s the baby,” Valerie previously told People. “We could be 100 years old, and when we get together, we inevitably fall into the same slots.”

Frank supported Joe through his grief

People notes that it isn’t just political milestones that Joe’s brothers have been there for – they’ve been a support in his personal life too. After Joe tragically lost his first wife Neilia and 13-month-old baby daughter Naomi in a car accident in 1972, his family supported him through his grief. “I had an overwhelming advantage in the loss,” Joe stated in a 2023 episode of the On Purpose With Jay Shetty podcast. “I had a really close family that was there … They were there for me.”

He introduced Joe to Jill Biden

Jill Biden opened up about how she met her future partner via his brother, Frank, in her 2019 memoir, Where the Light Enters. “I met a gregarious young guy from Wilmington, a student named Frank,” she noted in her memoir. “He and I would say hi to each other, occasionally stopping to chat. It wasn’t until much later that I took note of his last name: Biden. Frank Biden.” After seeing Jill in an ad campaign for the New Castle County Parks, Joe reportedly told Frank that he would date that type of girl. “And Frank said, ‘Well, why don’t you, then? I know her,’” Jill recalled, per People. “Frankie got my number from one of our mutual friends, and Joe called the next day.”

He also worked in government for a while

Frank was also in politics at one point. According to The Washington Post, he was the director of congressional, legislative and public affairs at the Government Printing Office during Bill Clinton’s presidency.

Is Frank Biden married?

It’s unclear whether Frank Biden is married, but he has been with his long-term partner Mindy Ward for almost 15 years, according to British media – which also reports that she was a Hooters waitress before becoming a flight attendant for American Airlines.

Frank made headlines in 2023 after a naked selfie he took appeared on the gay photo site GuysWithiPhones.com, per Newsweek. He then confirmed it was a genuine photo when he was confronted by the Daily Mail about it, saying: “I’ve absolutely no comment. I could care less. I haven’t even looked at it,” he shared. “They must have hacked my phone,” adding, “Anything that is a revealing picture of some kind is between Mindy and me.”