Joe Biden tests positive for Covid
US President Joe Biden has tested positive for Covid-19 and is showing symptoms. His Covid test has come out positive. His press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the US President has been vaccinated. He has been infected with Covid twice before. 81-year-old Biden was seen meeting supporters and speaking at an event in Las Vegas on Wednesday. However, he canceled his election speech scheduled for the night.
Jean-Pierre said the president plans to remain in isolation at his home in Delaware, although he will ‘fully perform all his duties during that time.’
Biden later thanked everyone for their ‘good wishes’ on X and said he would ‘work for the American people’ while recovering.
Pressure on Biden to withdraw from presidential race
This illness has come at a time when pressure is mounting on him to withdraw from the presidential race due to his age. Biden lagged behind Donald Trump in the recently held first presidential debate, after which he had to face heavy criticism inside and outside the party. The effect of his increasing age was clearly visible in this debate.
In recent weeks, about two dozen Democratic politicians have appealed to him to step down. These include California Congressman Adam Schiff, who said that he has serious doubts that the President will be able to defeat former President Donald Trump. He called on Biden to ‘carry the torch forward’.
Schiff said that Biden, ‘has been one of the most important presidents in the history of our country and he can protect his legacy of leadership by allowing another Democrat to come forward.’
According to US media reports, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries met Biden privately. The top two Democrats in the US Congress expressed deep concern that his candidacy could have a negative impact on other House and Senate elections.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates said after the report, ‘The President told both leaders that he is the party’s nominee, he plans to win, and he looks forward to working with both to pass his 100-day agenda to help working families.
