BREAKING: Former GOP Sen. Ben Sasse Announces ‘Death Sentence’ Cancer Diagnosis

Conservative News DailyDecember 23, 2025

Former Nebraska Republican senator Ben Sasse, 53, announced on X that he has been diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer and said the prognosis amounts to a “death sentence.” In a personal statement he wrote about confronting his mortality,leaning on his wife,children and siblings,and grounding himself in his christian faith as the family prepares for limited time together around the holidays. Sasse described recent family milestones – military service, academic achievements and learning to drive – and said he will pursue treatment and “is not going down without a fight,” noting advances in immunotherapy and other medical science. He also said his family is using humor while facing the realities ahead. Sasse left the Senate to become president of the University of Florida in 2023 and was formerly a vocal critic of Donald Trump; he closed his message by asking for peace for his supporters as treatment and the holidays approach.

Former Republican Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse announced Tuesday morning that he has been diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer.

Sasse, 53, d the news in a lengthy personal statement posted on X.

In the statement, Sasse said the cancer has metastasized and described advanced pancreatic cancer as a “death sentence.”

He wrote candidly about his mortality, his faith in God, and the reality that his time with his family might be limited.

“As a Christian, the weeks running up to Christmas are a time to orient our hearts toward the hope of what’s to come,” he wrote.

Friends-

This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, I’ll cut to the chase: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die.

Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it’s a death sentence.…

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) December 23, 2025

Sasse said he had leaned on his wife, his children, and his siblings since receiving the diagnosis.

He detailed several milestones in his children’s lives, including military service, academic success, and learning to drive.

Sasse stated he plans to pursue treatment and is not “going down without a fight,” citing advances in medical science.

He added that his family is embracing humor while preparing for the realities ahead.

Sasse left the Senate during his second term to become president of the University of Florida in 2023, a position he still holds.

During his time in the Senate, Sasse was a vocal critic of Donald Trump during Trump’s first term.

Sasse concluded his message by wishing supporters peace as his family prepares for treatment and Christmas.

He wrote, “I’ll have more to say. I’m not going down without a fight. One sub-part of God’s grace is found in the jawdropping advances science has made the past few years in immunotherapy and more.”