Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 with mild symptoms, the White House announced. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said he is vaccinated and boosted. Biden, 81, previously tested positive twice. He canceled a campaign speech after appearing in Las Vegas earlier. Facing pressure to step aside due to age, he will isolate at home while working. His doctor, Kevin O’Connor, reported upper respiratory symptoms and prescribed Paxlovid. Biden thanked supporters on social media, pledging to continue working. A tweet from his account also criticized Elon Musk and promoted a donation link.
Reporters on the Las Vegas trip were rushed to the airport after the announcement. Biden moved slowly up the plane steps without a mask, saying, “Good, I feel good.” He canceled a speech at UnidosUS, a Latino civil rights organization.
Biden faces increasing calls to withdraw from the election race. Nearly two dozen Democrats, including Congressman Adam Schiff, have urged him to step aside. Schiff praised Biden’s presidency but suggested passing the torch.
In a BET interview, Biden said he couldn’t step down while the country is so divided but would consider dropping out if his doctors identified a medical condition.
