President Joe Biden faces new questions over his candidacy in the November election – with his campaign events currently on pause due to a Covid-19 infection.
Announcing his Covid infection on Wednesday, Mr Biden’s press secretary said the 81-year-old was facing mild symptoms.
He would isolate at his home in Delaware while carrying out “all of his duties fully”, said Karine Jean-Pierre. She added that the president was vaccinated and boosted. He has tested positive for Covid twice before.
Mr Biden was seen earlier in the day visiting supporters in Las Vegas and speaking at an event. He was forced to cancel a speech later in the day at UnidosUS, a Latino civil rights organisation.
It marked a sudden and debilitating end to a trip that was supposed to see Mr Biden hitting the campaign trail again with full force – after the pause sparked by the attempted assassination of his rival Trump.
The president had spent time in Las Vegas trying to revive his appeal among Hispanic voters, with whom his poll lead has slipped since 2020.
Later on Wednesday, he was seen moving slowly and cautiously up the steps to Air Force One. He was not wearing a mask. As he boarded the plane, he was heard saying: “Good, I feel good.”
BBC