President Joe Biden is under increased pressure to withdraw from the 2024 race due to concerns about his age, as his campaign activities are currently on hold following a Covid-19 infection.
Reports indicate that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have privately expressed concerns about Biden’s candidacy. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has also reportedly told Biden that he cannot beat Donald Trump in the upcoming election.
The White House announced on Wednesday night that the 81-year-old president is experiencing mild symptoms. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that Biden, who has been vaccinated and boosted, tested positive for Covid-19 twice before.
Earlier in the day, Biden visited supporters in Las Vegas and spoke at an event, but later canceled a campaign speech due to his positive Covid test. He plans to isolate at his home in Delaware while continuing to perform his duties.
Biden’s doctor, Kevin O’Connor, stated that the president has upper respiratory symptoms and has started treatment with Paxlovid. Despite feeling well during his first event of the day, Biden later tested positive for Covid-19.
In a tweet, Biden thanked everyone for their well wishes and vowed to continue working for the American people during his recovery. Another tweet from his account criticized Elon Musk and wealthy individuals for trying to influence the election, urging supporters to donate.
Biden’s re-election campaign is facing challenges, including his recent debate performance against Trump and growing dissent among Democrats in Congress. Calls for Biden to step aside have intensified, with some Democratic politicians, such as Congressman Adam Schiff, urging him to pass the torch to another candidate.
Reports from ABC News, the Washington Post, and Politico indicate that Schumer and Jeffries recently met with Biden to discuss concerns that his candidacy could harm Democratic chances in Congress. The White House spokesman Andrew Bates reaffirmed Biden’s commitment to running and working with Democratic leaders to pass his agenda.
Biden has stated in an interview with BET that he feels he must continue his campaign due to the divided state of the country. He also mentioned that he would consider dropping out if his doctors advised him to do so based on a medical condition.