Joe Biden has cancelled a scheduled appearance in Las Vegas after testing positive for Covid-19.
The 81-year-old president was due to speak at the delivering remarks at the UnidosUS Annual Conference in Nevada on Wednesday evening. The news was announced shortly before 3pm as the president is experincing mild symptoms. Biden reportedly told organisers that he had not wanted to put attendees at risk.
Janet Murguía, CEO of UnidosUS, said she spoke with Biden by phone, 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,” she said in a statement shared by White House pool reporters. “So of course we understand that he needs to take the precautions that have been recommended and he did not obviously want to put anybody at risk.”
Murguía said that president Biden told her that she “wouldn’t get rid of him that easily” and planned to return to speak to UnidosUS supporters as soon as he was able.
A statement from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed the news and said the president would be self-isolating in accordance with CDC guidelines, but continue to carry out all of his duties “fully” during that time.
“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 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.”
A note from Biden’s doctor added he had experienced a “runny nose, a cough and general malaise.”
PCR confirmation testing will be pending and the president’s symptoms were described as “mild.” He will be self-isolating at his home in Rehoboth, Delaware.
Biden has conducted multiple campaign events, including rallies and press interviews across the country throughout the week. On Monday he sat down with NBC’s Lester Holt in the White House for a special interview.
He has been in Las Vegas, Nevada, since Monday night, appearing on Tuesday night on the last night of the NAACP’s 115th national convention. The president also sat for an interview for BET on Tuesday.
The president was asked during the interview what would have to happen for him to consider dropping out of the race.
Joe Biden said in a recent interview that he would consider dropping out of the 2024 election if he was diagnosed with a “medical condition” by a doctor.
Biden’s determination to stay in the 2024 race despite calls from Democratic voters and lawmakers comes just as Congressman Adam Schiff joined 20 other House Democrats to call for the president to step away from the race, saying it was “time for him to pass the torch.”
“If I had some medical condition that emerged, if somebody, if doctors came to me and said, you got this problem and that problem,” Biden said in an excerpt released on Wednesday, shortly before the announcement about his Covid diagnosis emerged.
The news is the latest setback for the Biden campaign, which has endured weeks of calls for the president to step down from the presidential race due to his age and mental capacity.
A recent report by Puck detailed a Zoom call the president held with moderate Democratic lawmakers described by one participant, speaking anonymously to the outlet, as “worse than the debate.” The source claimed that Biden frequently lost his train of thought during the call.
During a one-on-one debate with Donald Trump last month, seen by many as disastrous for the president, he was also said to be suffering from a cold, and appeared onstage with a raspy voice.
