Ask Onix
Former Senator Ben Sasse discloses advanced pancreatic cancer
Ben Sasse, who served Nebraska in the US Senate from 2015 to 2023, announced Tuesday he has been diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer, calling the illness a "death sentence" in a social media post.
The diagnosis
Sasse, 53, shared the news on X, confirming suspicions among friends and followers. "Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die," he wrote. He described the disease as "nasty stuff," though added that mortality is universal.
The former senator, who is married with three children, framed his announcement within the Christian Advent season, emphasizing hope and faith.
A political career marked by defiance
Sasse, a Harvard and Yale graduate, was known for his criticism of former President Donald Trump while often aligning with the administration on policy. His tenure is most notably defined by his 2021 vote to convict Trump of inciting insurrection during the January 6 Capitol riot.
"A weak and timid Congress will increasingly submit to an emboldened and empowered presidency. That's unacceptable. This institution needs to respect itself enough to tell the executive that some lines cannot be crossed."
Ben Sasse, 2021
The Senate ultimately acquitted Trump, who remained eligible to seek office again.
Post-Senate roles and controversy
After leaving Congress, Sasse became president of the University of Florida in 2023. He resigned in July 2024, citing his wife's health following her stroke.
A subsequent audit by Florida's Auditor General found Sasse had improperly used university funds, a claim he has denied.
Looking ahead
Sasse concluded his post with a vow to fight the disease. "I'm not going down without a fight," he wrote, adding that more updates would follow.
