Las Vegas, Nevada – A bizarre tweet, a cancelled speech, and a slow climb up the steps to Air Force One. These are the hallmarks of President Joe Biden’s latest battle, not against a political opponent, but against a familiar foe: Covid-19.
The 81-year-old president, already facing mounting pressure to step aside from the presidential race due to his age, has tested positive for the virus, throwing his campaign into further turmoil.
In a series of confusing tweets, Biden first declared, “I’m sick,” leaving the nation guessing as to the severity of his condition. Three minutes later, he added, “of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election,” before asking for donations to help “defeat Trump.”
The White House later confirmed the president’s positive test, stating that he is experiencing mild symptoms and has received an initial dose of Paxlovid. “He is vaccinated and boosted,” said press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, adding that Biden will self-isolate at his Delaware home.
The president’s doctor, Kevin O’Connor, described Biden’s symptoms as upper respiratory, including a runny nose and a cough. While he felt well enough for his first event of the day, a positive test later forced the cancellation of a planned campaign speech in Las Vegas.
The news of Biden’s Covid infection comes at a crucial juncture for his re-election campaign. Already facing growing dissent among Democrats in Congress, particularly after a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last month, Biden’s campaign was hoping to regain momentum after the pause caused by the attempted assassination of his rival.
Now, with the president’s campaign activity halted due to the Covid infection, the pressure on him to step aside is only likely to intensify. US media reports suggest that the top two Democrats in Congress, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have privately expressed concerns over Biden’s candidacy. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is also reported to have told the president that he cannot beat Donald Trump in November’s election.
The president’s slow and cautious ascent to Air Force One, using the shorter of the two sets of stairs, underscored the seriousness of his condition. Despite saying, “Good, I feel good,” as he boarded, the president’s movements were noticeably slower than usual.
This unexpected blow comes as Biden was trying to revive his appeal among Hispanic voters, with whom his poll lead has slipped since 2020. The president’s campaign had hoped to regain momentum in the wake of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, but this latest setback throws their plans into disarray.
The election campaign is now moving at a chaotic, unpredictable pace. With the president sidelined by Covid-19, the race for the White House has taken a dramatic turn, leaving the nation wondering what the future holds.
