U.S. President Joe Biden, who is under pressure to resign amid controversy over his advanced age, has contracted COVID-19 again. Just one day after resuming his campaign, he canceled all scheduled events once more, making disruptions to his presidential campaign inevitable. Concerns about the health of the 81-year-old president this year have intensified. President Biden has stated that he may reconsider his candidacy if medical issues arise.
Biden Tests Positive for COVID-19 Again... Calls for Resignation Mount Within Party
Janet Murguia, CEO of UnidosUS, a Latino community organization, announced on the afternoon of the 17th (local time) that President Biden tested positive for COVID-19 and would not attend an event hosted by the group. This announcement came more than an hour and a half later than the originally scheduled time for Biden’s campaign event. She said, "I just spoke with President Biden. He is deeply disappointed that he cannot be with us this afternoon."
Shortly thereafter, the White House confirmed that President Biden had tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently exhibiting mild symptoms. This is the third time Biden has contracted COVID-19, including the occasion in 2022 when he tested positive again just three days after completing treatment and testing negative. Previously, after the shooting incident involving former President Donald Trump, Biden had halted all campaign activities. He resumed campaigning starting with an event held by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Las Vegas the day before, but medical staff explained that due to his deteriorating condition, he underwent a COVID-19 test.
This latest positive test has drawn attention as it comes amid ongoing controversy over Biden’s advanced age. Despite Biden’s persistent determination to continue the presidential race, doubts about his ability to perform presidential duties continue even within the Democratic Party.
On the same day, Representative Adam Schiff (California), considered a close ally of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, joined the chorus of calls for Biden’s resignation. In a statement, Schiff expressed "serious concerns about whether Biden can defeat former President Trump," urging him to "pass the torch" and withdraw from the race. Schiff is the first to publicly call for Biden’s resignation since the shooting incident involving Trump on the 13th.
Local media reported that the resignation debate, which had quieted down briefly after the shooting, has resurfaced recently as Democratic leadership pushes to confirm Biden as the party’s presidential candidate early. Democratic House members Jared Huffman, Susan Wild, and Mike Quigley are also working on a joint letter urging Biden to withdraw before the party convention. ABC News reported that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat, conveyed during a private meeting with Biden last weekend that "voluntary resignation would be a greater contribution."
Contrasted with 'Coronation' Trump... 65% of Democratic Supporters Say "Biden Should Resign"
Moreover, this situation contrasts sharply with former President Trump, who survived the assassination attempt and is effectively having a 'coronation' at this week’s Republican National Convention. Politico noted, "Biden’s battle with COVID-19 will stand in stark contrast to Trump’s survival of last week’s assassination attempt," suggesting that this latest positive test will negatively impact Biden’s campaign. The New York Times (NYT) reported, "Biden’s COVID-19 diagnosis will complicate efforts to persuade those calling for his resignation," adding that "the election campaign is already facing immediate setbacks."
According to a poll released that day by the Associated Press and the University of Chicago’s NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 70% of respondents said Biden should step down as the presidential candidate. Among Democratic supporters, 65% supported his resignation, and 77% of independents agreed. Only 37% of Democratic supporters expressed satisfaction with Biden.
Despite calls for resignation from both inside and outside the Democratic Party, President Biden, in an interview with BET News aired that night, responded to a question about reconsidering his presidential run by saying, "If a medical situation arises and doctors say there is a problem," he could resign. Locally, this statement has drawn attention as a subtle shift in Biden’s previously firm stance against stepping down.
CNN reported that on the same day, while aboard Air Force One returning to his Delaware home, Biden showed a 'receptive' attitude toward calls for resignation within the party. An anonymous source said, "He has shifted from 'Vice President Kamala Harris cannot win' to 'Does he think Vice President Harris can win?'" and added, "It is still uncertain what decision he will make, but he seems to be listening to the calls."
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