US President Joe Biden, under pressure from some Democrats to end his re-election campaign, tested positive for Covid-19 in Las Vegas on Wednesday. He is now self-isolating with mild symptoms, the White House said.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced the positive test for the 81-year-old President after he canceled a speech due to the diagnosis.
“He is vaccinated and boosted and experiencing mild symptoms,” Jean-Pierre said.
As he boarded Air Force One to return to Delaware, Biden told reporters: “Good, I feel good.” However, he climbed the stairs slowly, holding the railing tightly and pausing a few times.
This illness comes at a critical time for Biden, who is losing support in key states against Republican Donald Trump. Trump is headlining a successful convention this week after surviving an assassination attempt on Saturday.
The White House stated that Biden intended to spend an extended weekend at his beach house in Delaware. It’s unclear how long he will be off the campaign trail.
After the announcement, Biden’s motorcade quickly moved to the Las Vegas airport after he taped a radio interview in the city.
Biden had met a few dozen people at a Mexican restaurant before his radio interview. He was delayed in delivering a speech to the Latino civil rights group UnidosUS when the organizer, Janet Murguia, announced his positive Covid test. The news was met with groans in the conference room.
“He said to tell my folks that we’re not going to get rid of him that quickly, we’re going to have a chance to hear from him in the future directly,” Murguia said.
Biden, who spent two nights in Vegas campaigning, is facing pressure from some Democrats who think he is too old to seek re-election and want him to step aside for another candidate.
He has been defiant, telling one interviewer that only the “Lord Almighty” could persuade him to quit the race.
“He will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time,” said Jean-Pierre.
Earlier on Wednesday, Biden faced a setback when Adam Schiff, a prominent Democratic member of the US House of Representatives from California, said it was time for him to “pass the torch” to someone else.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll concluded on Tuesday showed that 40% of Democratic registered voters think Biden should end his re-election bid. About 65% of independent registered voters agreed. Furthermore, 58% of Democratic registered voters and 70% of independent registered voters said Biden is too old to work in government.
The White House said Biden’s doctor noted he had upper respiratory symptoms earlier in the afternoon.
“He felt OK for his first event of the day, but as he wasn’t feeling better, a Covid-19 test was conducted and the results were positive,” the statement said.
Biden will self-isolate following Centers for Disease Control guidelines. His symptoms are mild, and he has received an initial dose of Paxlovid, the doctor said.
Biden’s last bout with Covid was in July 2022. He tested positive on July 21, recovered on July 27, tested positive again on July 30, and was finally cleared on August 7.
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