(Image source from: x.com/WhiteHouse)
The White House has announced that President Joe Biden, who is 81 years old, has tested positive for COVID-19 during his visit to Las Vegas on Wednesday. The statement indicates that the President is experiencing mild symptoms and is self-isolating as he returns to Delaware to continue carrying out his duties fully. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that the President is vaccinated and boosted, and a video shows him walking slowly up the stairs of Air Force One to depart Las Vegas. In a recent interview, Biden had said he would only reconsider running for president if a medical condition emerged, and the current diagnosis comes after he expressed this sentiment.
The US President had planned a lengthy weekend getaway to his Delaware beach home. Yet, the ongoing Covid-19 crisis made it unclear how long he would remain off the campaign trail. Minutes after announcing his plans, the President's motorcade swiftly departed for the Las Vegas airport, following a radio interview in the city. Prior to the interview, he briefly greeted patrons at a local Mexican restaurant, but was running late to deliver a speech to the civil rights group UnidosUS. In the event, organizer Janet Murguia was seen informing the attendees of the President's unavailability, due to his positive Covid-19 test at age 81. Her announcement was met with loud expressions of disappointment from the crowd. "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 relayed. The President has faced pressure from fellow Democrats to withdraw from the race, following a challenging debate performance against his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump. However, he has remained defiant, vowing to see the campaign through.
President Biden is vaccinated, boosted, and he is experiencing mild symptoms following a positive COVID-19 test.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 17, 2024
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.
A note from @POTUS' Doctor:…
The current US President has been struggling to hold onto crucial swing states, with former President Trump surviving an attempted attack over the weekend and poised to dominate the upcoming convention. Even before the COVID-19 announcement, a prominent Democratic figure, Representative Adam Schiff, has urged President Biden to step down from the race. Schiff expressed concerns about Biden's ability to defeat Trump, stating that the decision should be Biden's alone but that it's time for him to pass the torch. Schiff believes that Biden's withdrawal would safeguard his legacy and allow the Democrats to triumph over Donald Trump. Schiff's statement carries weight due to his close ties to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Furthermore, recent reports indicate that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer privately advised the President that it would be better for the Democratic Party and the country if he were to bow out of the race.
The senator conveyed the views of his party members directly to the president on Saturday, despite the pressure. Despite this, the Democratic Party pushed ahead with plans for a virtual vote to officially nominate Jode Biden as their candidate in the first week of August. The party's national convention is scheduled to open in Chicago on August 19, and this move comes after nearly 20 members of Congress from the party urged Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, as reported by The Associated Press. Biden, who had spent two nights on the campaign trail in Vegas, is engaged in a battle with fellow Democrats who are concerned that the 81-year-old is too old to seek re-election. According to a new poll by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, nearly two-thirds of Democrats nationwide believe that Biden should step aside and allow the party to nominate a different candidate. Additionally, a Reuters/Ipsos poll concluded on Tuesday indicates that around 40 percent of registered Democratic voters think Biden should abandon his re-election bid, while approximately 65 percent of independent registered voters agree with this sentiment.
