Biden tests positive for Covid-19, White House says

Joe Biden has tested positive for Covid-19 and is suffering from mild symptoms, the White House said.

Karine Jean-Pierre, his press secretary, clarified that the American president was vaccinated and vaccinated. He has already tested positive for Covid twice.

Mr Biden, 81, was seen earlier Wednesday visiting supporters in Las Vegas and speaking at an event. He canceled a campaign speech later in the evening.

The illness comes as he faces increasing pressure to retire due to his age.

US media reports that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Majority Leader Hakeem Jefferies – the two top Democrats in the US Congress – have met separately with Mr Biden privately and expressed deep concern that his candidacy could have a negative impact on other House and Senate races.

Ms. Jean-Pierre said the president planned to isolate at his home in Delaware while “fully carrying out all of his duties.”

The president’s physician, Kevin O’Connor, said Mr. Biden had experienced upper respiratory symptoms, including a runny nose and cough, and had received his first dose of Paxlovid.

He felt fine during his first event of the day but then tested positive, Dr O’Connor said.

Mr Biden then took to Twitter to thank everyone for “the good health wishes” and said he would “work to get the job done for the American people” while he recovers.

In another tweet, his account said: “I’m sick of it” before responding: “…of Elon Musk and his rich friends trying to buy this election. And if you agree, contribute here.”

The tweet pointed to a donation portal.

Earlier Wednesday, reporters traveling to Las Vegas said they were rushed from the site of a campaign stop at a Mexican restaurant to the city’s airport after the announcement.

The restaurant was awash in color, with Mexican artwork and guitars hanging on the walls and banners hung from the ceiling. One wall was adorned with “Biden-Harris” posters.

As ceiling fans spun at low speed and Latin pop played softly over the speakers, Mr. Biden entered through the kitchen door, flanked by a member of the Secret Service, and walked into the main dining room.

He shook hands with the guests (who had clearly prepared well in advance for his arrival), kissed one and took selfies with others.

The president seemed a little stiffer and slower than the day before, when he gave a forceful speech to a national civil rights group.

Mr. Biden was forced to cancel a speech to UnidosUS, a Latino civil rights organization.

The president is trying to revive his appeal among Hispanic voters, among whom his lead in polls has narrowed since 2020.

Later Wednesday, he was seen slowly and cautiously walking up the steps to the plane. He was not wearing a mask.

As he boarded Air Force One, he was heard saying, “Good, I feel good.”

It is a sudden and debilitating end to a trip that was supposed to see Mr Biden return to campaigning with a vengeance – after the pause caused by the assassination attempt on his rival Donald Trump.

Mr Biden’s re-election bid was already rocked by growing dissent among Democrats in Congress after his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last month.

And now the turbulence is even worse as Air Force One bounces through the warm air above Nevada and the president, who is riding in front, is hit by another unexpected blow.

This election campaign seems to be proceeding at a chaotic and unpredictable pace.

Mr Biden’s illness comes as he faces growing calls to withdraw from the election race.

Nearly two dozen Democratic politicians have called for his removal in recent weeks, including Adam Schiff, a California congressman who said he had serious doubts about the president’s ability to beat the elder Mr. Trump.

He called on Mr Biden to “pass the torch”.

Mr. Schiff said Mr. Biden “has been one of the most consequential presidents in our nation’s history” and that he could “secure his legacy of leadership” by allowing another Democrat to run.

Mr. Schumer and Mr. Jeffries — the top two Democrats in Congress — have met privately with Mr. Biden in recent days and expressed concerns among fellow lawmakers that his presence at the top of the November race could hurt their chances of controlling either chamber of Congress, according to reports from ABC News, the Washington Post and Politico.

“The president told both leaders that he is the party’s nominee, that he expects to win, and that he looks forward to working with both of them to pass his 100-day plan to help working families,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said after the news broke.

A spokesman for Mr Jeffries said it was a “private conversation that will remain private”. Mr Schumer’s office called the reports “idle speculation” but added that the Democratic leader “has conveyed his group’s views directly to President Biden”.

In an interview with BET, Mr Biden said he did not feel able to pass the torch when the country was so “divided”.

The president also said for the first time that he would consider dropping out of the race if one of his doctors told him he had a “health problem.”