Prominent conservative commentator Victor Davis Hanson announced he will undergo major surgery Tuesday to address a serious health problem.
Hanson, 72, disclosed the news during Friday’s episode of his podcast “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” revealing he has been struggling with a rare medical condition that proved difficult to identify despite being a nonsmoker and nondrinker.
“I’m having a major operation, and I’ve been presented with a serious problem, but I’m going to do all I can to solve it,” Hanson said on the show. “And that’s all I can do and trust in the power of prayer and faith—and in a wonderful surgeon.”
He will have the procedure performed at Stanford Medical Center.
“I finally ended up going to the best medical center that I know, Stanford Med, and the people there have been absolutely wonderful,” Hanson said. “It’ll work out one way or the other.”
Hanson explained that viewers and listeners had noticed changes in his appearance and voice over recent months.
“I don’t want to talk about my own problems, but I’ve had people call me and say, ‘You don’t look well, you’re hoarse, or you’re coughing,'” Hanson said. “But it’s been a nine-month odyssey because the problem I had for a nonsmoker and nondrinker was a rare type and very hard to diagnose, so it’s no one’s fault other than my own, perhaps for not realizing why I was not getting well.”
After recently undergoing a biopsy, Hanson decided to proceed with the operation. He did not specify the nature of his condition or provide details about the expected length of his recovery.
“I’ll be fine. At least I’ll do my best for everybody,” Hanson said. “I think I have an obligation to all of our readers and listeners from whom I get wonderful letters expressing support and good wishes; our listeners and viewers are extraordinarily kind people.”
During Hanson’s absence, his co-host Jack Fowler will continue hosting the podcast.
The announcement triggered an immediate response from prominent conservative voices. Megyn Kelly posted on X: “Friends, @VDHanson needs our prayers. Let’s go.”
Fox News host Laura Ingraham wrote —
My friends, please take a moment right now to stop what you’re doing and pray for Victor Davis Hanson. This national treasure is confronting a major health challenge and especially today needs us to lift him up in prayer. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/TVrbpR4qcf
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) December 30, 2025
Radio host Mark Levin added: “Victor is one of the wisest, smartest, kindest, most decent people I’ve known. I very much look up to him. He’s also a fighter. May God be with him today as he goes through this very serious surgery.”
Hanson has been a fixture on Fox News for years and a prominent voice in conservative media.
He has been an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump and wrote “The Case for Trump” in 2019, arguing that Trump was the outsider politician America needed after “decades of drift” and could “dismantle a corrupt old order.”