PRESIDENT Joe Biden has tested positive for Covid-19 – just hours after he said he’d only consider dropping out of the presidential race if he was diagnosed with a medical condition that prevented his run.
Biden, 81, was more than an hour and a half late for a scheduled appearance at the annual UnidosUS conference in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday before the organization announced his diagnosis.
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Janet Murguía, the CEO of UnidosUs took the podium in his absence and announced that he wouldn’t be speaking as he was just diagnosed with the virus.
UnidosUs is a Latino civil rights organization in the battleground state of Nevada.
“I was just on the phone with President Biden. And he shared his deep disappointment at not being able to join us this afternoon. The president has been at many events as we all know and he just tested positive for Covid,” Murguía told attendees.
“We appreciate very much his wanting to be here – I had a great introduction reminding us of all the actions he’s taken for our community,” she told the audience.
Biden shared a statement on his personal X account after the announcement, simply writing, “I’m sick.”
He then jokingly added a reply to the tweet, explaining, “of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election. And if you agree, pitch in here.”
The president then included a link to donate to his re-election campaign.
Biden elaborated more on his official presidential account, writing, “I tested positive for COVID-19 this afternoon, but I am feeling good and thank everyone for the well wishes.
“I will be isolating as I recover, and during this time I will continue to work to get the job done for the American people.”
The White House also released a statement further explaining the president’s diagnosis and his treatment plan.
“Earlier today following his first event in Las Vegas, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19. He is vaccinated and boosted and he is experiencing mild symptoms,” the statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre read.
“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.
“The White House will provide regular updates on the President’s status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation.”
The statement included a note from Biden’s doctor which explained that he was experiencing upper respiratory symptoms this afternoon including a runny nose, cough, and mucous.
Biden attended an earlier event on Wednesday where he was pictured greeting supporters in a restaurant.
His doctor said he felt okay at the start of the day, but after the symptoms did not disappear, the president was advised to take a test for Covid-19.
His doctor added that Biden would continue to self-isolate with CDC guidance.
Joe Biden’s doctor’s note
On Wednesday, Janet Murguia the president and CEO of UnidosUS announced that Presidnet Biden had contracted COVID and would not be speaking at the UnidosUS conference. The White House later confirmed the diagnosis with a statement.
The note from Biden’s doctor read:
“The President presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorrhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise.
“He felt okay for his first event of the day, but given that he was not feeling better, point of care testing for COVID-19 was conducted, and the results were positive for the COVID-19 virus.
“Given this, the President will be self-isolating in accordance with CDC guidance for symptomatic individuals.
“PCR confirmation testing will be pending. His symptoms remain mild, his respiratory rate is normal at 16, his temperature is normal at 97.8 and his pulse oximetry is normal at 97%.
“The President has received his first dose of Paxlovid. He will be self-isolating at his home in Rehoboth.”
According to The White House’s tweet on X
Biden’s respiratory rate and temperature remain normal. He has received a dose of Paxlovid.
Paxlovid is a popular medication used to treat mild to moderate Covid-19 symptoms.
After the news broke, Biden was seen boarding Air Force One as reporters shouted questions at him.
He told reporters that he was feeling “good,” and gave them a thumbs up as he walked from his car to the plane.
Biden previously tested positive for the virus in July 2022.
The president released a video at the time addressing the public and assuring Americans that his symptoms were mild.
“Going to continue to get it done and in the meantime, thanks for your concern and keep the faith. It’s gonna be okay,” he told his constituents.
Biden then tested positive again in the same month in what was likely a “rebound” diagnosis.
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DEM DOUBT
The diagnosis comes as sources told ABC News that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are considering delaying the Democrat nomination process.
Schumer reportedly met with Biden on Saturday in Delaware.
Jeffires and Schumer’s decision follows rumblings among the Democrat party that Biden is unfit to continue his presidential campaign.
A spokesperson for Schumer responded to the report with a statement that read, “Unless ABC’s source is Senator Chuck Schumer or President Joe Biden the reporting is idle speculation.
“Leader Schumer conveyed the views of his caucus directly to President Biden on Saturday.”
Another source told CNN that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi privately told Biden that polls show he cannot win the election and could ruin Democrats’ bid for the House.
I will be isolating as I recover, and during this time I will continue to work to get the job done for the American people.
President Joe Biden
A different source told the publication that Biden became defensive and said he’s seen polls indicating that he can win.
Although Biden has publicly expressed his confidence in his re-election campaign, sources have recently told CNN that he is “receptive” to conversations on his political future.
“He’s gone from saying, ‘Kamala can’t win,’ to ‘Do you think Kamala can win?” the anonymous source told CNN.
“It’s still unclear where he’s going to land but seems to be listening,” they added.
Biden expressed a different perspective during a recent interview with George Stephanopoulos, telling the ABC anchor that only the “Lord Almighty” could convince him to drop out.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL INTERRUPTION
The news comes as the president has been traveling for speaking engagements as part of his re-election campaign.
Biden sat down with BET News this week for an interview, revealing that he would re-evaluate his decision to run for re-election if he had a medical issue.
When asked what it would take to re-consider his run, Biden responded, “If I had some medical condition that emerged.”
Biden then clarified, “If doctors came to me and said, ‘You got this problem, that problem.’”
The U.S. Sun has reached out to President Biden’s campaign team and his communications department for comment.
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REPUBLICAN FRONT
Biden’s Covid-19 diagnosis also comes amid the annual Republican National Convention, where Donald Trump officially accepted the nomination for president.
The Republican party has stood strong behind Trump and even his former challengers showed support for him at the convention.
Former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley endorsed Trump after questioning his ability to lead throughout her presidential campaign.
“I haven’t always agreed with Trump. But we agree more often than we disagree,” she said during her RNC speech.
“We agree on keeping America strong. We agree on keeping America safe. And we agree that Democrats have moved so far to the left that they are putting our freedoms in danger.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reiterated a similar sentiment, telling the RNC crowd, “We need a commander in chief who can lead 24 hours a day and seven days a week. America can not afford four more years of a ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ presidency.”
Another former Republican challenger, biotech entrepreneur, Vivek Ramaswamy, showed his strong support for Trump and emphasized the former president’s conservative immigration policies.
Senator Ted Cruz agreed with Ramaswamy, telling the RNC crowd, “Democrats cynically decided they wanted votes from illegals more than they wanted to protect our children.”
Former Housing Secretary Ben Carson, Senator Marco Rubio, and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders also expressed strong support for Trump during their RNC speeches.
VIOLENT RALLY
Republicans are standing strong behind Trump following his assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.
He was addressing his supporters when a bullet grazed his ear and he fell to the stage.
Secret Service rushed to his aid and ushered him to safety.
The gunman was identified as Thomas Crooks.
There were two fatalities from the shooting, including the gunman and an attendee, a volunteer fire chief, and a father by the name of Corey Comperatore.
Just two days after the shooting, Trump attended the RNC with a bandage over his ear.
Trump announced on Truth Social during the convention that Ohio Senator JD Vance is his running mate.
The former president is anticipated to address the nation at the RNC on Thursday night.
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