Biden walks slowly off of Air Force One after COVID diagnosis (2024)

President Joe Biden arrived in Delaware on Wednesday night after testing positive for COVID-19 while on the campaign trail in Las Vegas.

The 81-year-old - whose political future is in jeopardy due to his age - walked very slowly off Air Force One, pausing multiple times.

He then put on a mask on inside the black SUV that carted him off to his beach house in Rehoboth.

Biden also appeared to need some assistance as he slowly nudged himself into the car before the motorcade pulled away.

Over the past 24 hours, private conversations with three top Congressional Democrats have leaked out - and they've all reportedly given Biden the same advice - he's not going to win and it's time to go.

Late Wednesday, CNN reported thatSpeaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi privately told Biden he cannot defeat former President Donald Trump and could sink the Democrats' chances in Congress as well.

That comes after both the Ruthless podcast and ABC News reportedthat SenateMajority Leader Chuck Schumer traveled to Rehoboth last weekend for a private meeting with Bidenand told the president to quit.

ABC also reported that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered a similar message to Biden as Schumer did when they met last week.

Jeffries had penned a letter to colleagues about the meeting but didn't reveal the meat of the conversation.

A spokesperson refused to divulge those details Wednesday saying that the letter to House Democrats 'speaks for itself.'

'It was a private conversation that will remain private,' the spokesperson said.

That didn't remain the case for Rep. Adam Schiff, who The New York Times outedas telling Democratic donors in the Hamptons on Saturday - prior to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump - that Biden couldn't win.

Schiff also told the crowd that Biden's unpopularity could kill the party's chances in Congress as well.

On Wednesday, Schiff made his thoughts public.

'While the choice to withdraw from the campaign is President Biden's alone, I believe it is time for him to pass the torch,' Schiff said in a statement. 'And in doing so, secure his legacy of leadership by allowing us to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming election.'

The president has remained publicly defiant about staying in the race, but CNN also reported Wednesday that behind-the-scenes his stance has softened.

The network quoted a senior Biden adviser saying that the president has grown 'more receptive' to the idea of pulling the plug on this re-election hopes - asking advisers if they believe Vice President Kamala Harris can win.

He'll also have a little bit more time to make that decision.

An original plan to have Democratic delegates nominate the president virtually in late July due to Ohio having an early ballot deadline has been delayed.

Ohio's rules were changed, but in addition the DNC bowed to pressure from Democrats worried about Biden staying at the top of the ticket and delayed the virtual vote until the first week of August.

The Democratic National Convention is planned for August 19-22 in Chicago.

He'll also have time to think about his political future while in COVID isolation at his Rehoboth Beach home.

In an interview this week Biden said he would only drop out if doctors told him to and there was a medical reason that made it necessary.

'If I had some medical condition that emerged, if somebody, if doctors came to me and said, you got this problem and that problem,' Biden told BET news.

He previously said only the 'Lord almighty' would pry him from the 2024 race.

Biden took a COVID test Wednesday when he started getting a runny nose and a cough.

Later, he gingerly boarded Air Force One, using the shorter of the two sets of stairs, for the flight home.

The maskless president gave a thumbs up from his limousine- 'The Beast' - before boarding, and said: 'I feel good.'

TheWhite House physician said the president was feeling 'general malaise'.

The West Wing added that Biden is vaccinated and boosted and took a dose of Paxlovid on Wednesday afternoon.

Earlier on Wednesday he had been speaking to supporters at a restaurant in Las Vegas.

Janet Murguía, the CEO of Latino civil rights organization UnidosUS, announced Biden's positive test as she confirmed he would not be appearing at a scheduled event in Las Vegas.

She said: '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 we all know and he just tested positive for COVID. So of course we understand that he needs to take the precautions that have been recommended and he did not obviously want to put anybody at risk.'

It is the third time Biden has tested positive for COVID.

The first time was on July 21, 2022, when he had mild symptoms.

He tested positive again nine days later in a 'rebound.'

Biden sent the 'I'm sick' message to supporters in a fundraising email.

He then added: 'P.S. On a more serious note, I did just test positive for COVID today. But don’t worry too much about me.

'I’m doing just fine, and I’m still as committed as ever to holding Donald Trump and his rich cronies accountable. Thanks for standing with me.'

In a statement White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: 'Earlier today, following his first event in Las Vegas, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19.

'He is vaccinated and boosted and he is experiencing mild symptoms.

'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.'

She said he would 'continued to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation.'

The President’s doctor, in a statement, said Biden had presented with 'upper respiratory symptoms' including a 'runny nose' and 'cough with general malaise'.

The doctor said: 'He felt okay for his first event of the day but, given that he was not feeling better, point of care testing for COVID-19 was conducted, and the results were positive for the COVID-19 virus.

'Given this, the President will be self-isolating in accordance with CDC guidance for symptomatic individuals.

'His symptoms remain mild.'

He added that Biden's temperature was normal.