After the White House announced that U.S. President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 during a campaign trip to Las Vegas on Wednesday, attention turned to the potential repercussions. The 81-year-old president confirmed to the press before boarding Air Force One for his home in Delaware that he felt fine, but this new announcement could heighten concerns about his age and health, which had already sparked calls for him to withdraw from the presidential race. When asked about his mental acuity, the Democrat previously stated that he would reassess his candidacy if diagnosed with a serious medical issue.
Biden’s COVID-19 diagnosis came just minutes after the head of a Latino union announced that the president had called to apologize for being unable to deliver a speech to their members after testing positive for the virus. This occurred amid rising pressure on Biden to exit the presidential race against rival Donald Trump, following his disastrous performance during the presidential debate that raised worries about his age and health.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that Biden would return to his home in Delaware "where he will isolate and continue to fulfill his duties fully during this time," noting that he had "received the full COVID-19 vaccine." The White House also released a statement indicating that Biden was experiencing a runny nose and cough, accompanied by a general feeling of malaise, and that he was now receiving the antiviral drug Paxlovid. His symptoms remained mild, with a normal breathing rate of 16, a temperature of 97.8, and a pulse oxygen level of 97 percent.
Janet Murguía, head of Unidos, revealed that she was speaking on the phone with President Biden, who expressed deep disappointment at not being able to join the event that afternoon. When asked by the media outlet BET on Tuesday about what might lead him to consider withdrawing from his campaign, the Democratic presidential candidate replied that it would only be if he developed a medical issue confirmed by doctors.
This marks the first time Biden has opened the door to the idea of stepping back from his campaign. The announcement of his COVID-19 infection comes at a time when Biden’s political survival is at stake following his catastrophic performance in late June during his debate with Donald Trump, which raised a wave of questions about his physical and mental capabilities, according to ABC News. Many Democrats have been calling for the president to withdraw from the presidential race.
In this context of tensions, Democratic party officials announced their intention on Wednesday to expedite Biden's nomination process through a yet-to-be-defined early voting system, which has angered those hoping to see him withdraw from the race. This system is expected to allow voting during the first week of August instead of waiting for the Democratic National Convention, which begins in Chicago on August 19, during which the nominee must be officially named for the presidential election on November 5 against Trump. Meanwhile, some Democrats have criticized this plan, considering it a way to impose Biden’s nomination despite doubts about his capabilities and without any discussion of possible alternatives.
