President Biden indicated that he might consider stepping down if diagnosed with a “medical condition” by doctors, hinting for the first time at wavering on his decision to seek a second term.
Biden made this comment during a BET interview on Tuesday, when asked what might make him drop out of the race.
“If I had some medical condition that emerged, if somebody, if doctors came to me and said, you got this problem and that problem,” he responded.
Biden also mentioned that he feels compelled to run again, rather than merely being a “transitional” leader as he had stated in 2020, because the nation is “so divided.”
“I said I was going to be a transitional candidate, and I thought I would be able to move on from this and pass it on to somebody else,” he told the outlet.
“But I didn’t anticipate things getting so, so, so divided. And quite frankly, I think the only thing age brings is a little bit of wisdom.”
On Wednesday, Biden tested positive for COVID-19 while in Las Vegas campaigning. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed the positive test following his first event in Las Vegas.
“He is vaccinated and boosted and he is experiencing mild symptoms,” Jean-Pierre commented. “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,” the press secretary added.
Despite his early departure, Biden was scheduled to go home to Delaware after wrapping up in Las Vegas.
According to his doctor, Biden is suffering from upper respiratory symptoms and has already taken his first dose of Paxlovid, an antiviral medication. According to the doctor, Biden does not have a fever, and his respiratory rate is normal.
Biden told reporters that he was feeling good when he arrived at a Las Vegas airport, but acknowledged “I’m sick” in a tweet hours later.
The news of his illness comes amid reports that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has privately urged Biden to end his re-election campaign.
“I am told Chuck Schumer had a blunt one-on-one conversation with Biden Saturday afternoon in Rehoboth. Schumer forcefully made the case that it would be best if Biden bowed out of the race,” ABC News’ Johnathan Karl tweeted.
“Schumer’s office wouldn’t comment on the specifics of the conversation, telling me only, ‘Leader Schumer conveyed the views of his caucus,’” he reported.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) publicly echoed the call on Wednesday, stating that the nation. was “at a crossroads.”
“A second Trump presidency will undermine the very foundation of our democracy, and I have serious concerns about whether the President can defeat Donald Trump in November,” he remarked.
Schiff said it was time for Biden to “to pass the torch” and “secure his legacy of leadership” by giving another Democrat the opportunity to take on Trump.
“I will do everything I can to help them succeed,” he vowed. “There is only one singular goal: defeating Donald Trump. The stakes are just too high.”
According to a CNN report, Biden is becoming “receptive” to the idea dropping out so Vice President Kamala Harris can become the party’s nominee.
Various Democratic sources told CNN that the tone of discussions with Biden is beginning to waffle as more lawmakers call for him to drop out.
“The private conversations with the Hill are continuing,” a top Democratic disclosed to the outlet. “He’s being receptive. Not as defiant as he is publicly.”
The adviser noted that Biden’s stance is shifting from “Kamala can’t win” to “Do you think Kamala can win?” Although it’s still unclear where Biden will ultimately land, he “seems to be listening.”
Regarding whether his COVID-19 diagnosis qualifies as the “medical condition” that would lead Biden to drop out of the race, an email from top campaign officials Jen O’Malley Dillon and Julie Chavez Rodriguez clarifies that Biden will resume his event schedule once he recovers. ”
The president is doing fine and looking forward to being back on the campaign trail as soon as he is COVID free,” the email stated.
That. guy would lie about anything; and he has.
Anyone else notice he wasn’t wearing a mask when he stumbled up the ramp on his helicopter, yesterday?
YEP!! And no one else was wearing a mask either. I don’t think he has Covid. I think he is just an old tired man. Unfit to be President Of The United States.
But he had Covid before & No issues then