U.S. President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 while visiting Las Vegas on Wednesday (July 17). The White House said Biden had mild symptoms and would be isolated. Biden is facing pressure from his Democratic colleagues to withdraw from the election, and the diagnosis will make his election campaign more challenging.
“The president has received the vaccine and booster shot and is experiencing mild symptoms,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “He will return to his residence in Delaware to self-isolate, during which time he will continue to exercise all the powers of his office.”
Biden, 81, gave reporters a thumbs-up from his car on the way to the airport and said, “I feel good.” He slowly climbed the steps, holding the handrails tightly, pausing several times, and then boarded Air Force One to fly to Delaware.
Biden posted on social media platform X: “I will be in quarantine during my recovery, during which time I will continue to work hard for the American people.”
The White House quoted Biden’s doctor as saying that Biden had upper respiratory tract symptoms that afternoon. “He felt fine when he attended the first event, but because he did not get better, he was tested for COVID-19 and the result was positive.”
The diagnosis comes at a critical time for Biden’s campaign, following concerns about his health following a poor debate performance and as Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump gained momentum following the shooting at the weekend.
The White House said Biden planned to spend a long weekend at his Delaware beach house. It was unclear how long Biden’s illness would keep him out of the campaign.
Biden had to cancel a speech due to his diagnosis. He had originally planned to speak at the annual conference of the Latino civil rights organization “UnidosUS”.
When Janet Murguia, president of “UnidosUS,” announced the news that Biden was diagnosed, there were sighs in the conference room.
“He said to let everyone know that we are not going to get rid of him so quickly and we will have a chance to hear directly from him,” Murguia said.
This is not the first time Biden has been diagnosed with COVID-19; the last time was in 2022.
Some of Biden’s Democratic colleagues, who worry that he is too old to run again, are calling on him to withdraw from the race, including Adam Schiff, a top Democratic figure in the House of Representatives.
Biden has remained firm in the face of these calls, saying only “Almighty God” could persuade him to withdraw.
According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll just completed on Tuesday (July 16), about 40% of registered Democratic voters believe Biden should give up his re-election campaign; about 65% of independent voters agree with this view.
58% of registered Democratic voters believe Biden is too old for government work; 70% of independent voters agree.