President Joe Biden suddenly canceled an appearance at an event in Las Vegas, Nevada, after testing positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.
Biden was set to speak at the UnidosUS Annual Conference on Wednesday, drawing more than 1,500 Latino advocates in leaders in Nevada, a crucial swing state in the 2024 presidential race. The speech comes as Biden has been trying to rally his supporters around him as Democrats in Congress call for him to resign from the campaign.
The group's CEO Janet Murguía announced he would not be attending following a positive COVID-19 test.
"Thank you all so much for your patience and understanding. Regrettably, 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 well all know and he just tested positive for COVID," she said.
Murguía's announcement was met with boos from the audience. She added that Biden didn't want to put "anybody at risk" and that Biden planned on speaking to the conference at a later date.
"He's just really sorry he couldn't be with us and obviously we share that disappointment, but we've seen how COVID has still impacted many in our community still," Murguía said.
Biden posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he was "feeling good" and thanked people for their well wishes. He added that he will "continue to work to get the job done for the American people." However, the COVID diagnosis sparked some people to speculated Biden was going to drop out of the race.
In an interview with BET News that was released on Wednesday, Biden said he would drop out of the campaign if a doctor told him that he had a "problem."
Biden also used his COVID diagnosis as a fundraising push. His campaign account wrote on X a short, two-word message, "I'm sick." Then a few minutes later posted a follow up message that said "of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election. And if you agree, pitch in here."
Was Joe Biden Hospitalized?
Biden is experiencing mild symptoms, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Those include a runny nose, cough and "general malaise," Biden's doctor said in a statement obtained by Newsweek. His doctor added that Biden felt okay at an event earlier in the day but was tested for COVID when he didn't feel better and got a positive result. Biden will return to Delaware to self-isolate in accordance with CDC guidelines.
Biden is also receiving Paxlovid as part of his care and has not been hospitalized.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email.
Biden has been attending several events in Nevada over the past few days as polls show him trailing former President Donald Trump in the battleground states, which has not gone for a Republican on the presidential level since 2004.
Biden has faced calls to withdraw from the presidential race from some Democrats amid concerns about his ability to run a robust campaign following his performance in the presidential debate last month. Biden has resisted those calls, seeking to make the case as to why he is the strongest candidate to face off against Trump in November.
Video footage shows Biden leaving Las Vegas on Air Force One to begin self-isolating. Notably, he was not wearing a mask, which public health experts say can help prevent transmission of the virus. He waved at and held a "thumbs up" at reporters as he boarded the plane.
How Many Times Has Joe Biden Had Covid?
Biden previously tested positive for the BA.5 COVID-19 in July 2022. He took Paxlovid at the time. He experienced mild symptoms during his first infection.
He tested positive again later that month in a "rebound" infection that can rarely occur when an individual is treated with Paxlovid, an oral antiviral pill that can help treat symptoms from the virus.
Biden received a COVID-19 booster vaccine in September 2023, alongside his annual flu vaccine, according to a White House memo from his physician Kevin O'Connor.
Update 07/17/24 7:23 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 07/17/24 7:29 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
