Joe Biden has tested positive for Covid-19 and is suffering from mild symptoms, the White House said.
Karine Jean-Pierre, his press secretary, indicated that the American president was vaccinated and vaccinated. He has already tested positive for Covid twice.
Mr Biden, 81, was seen earlier Wednesday visiting supporters in Las Vegas and speaking at an event. He canceled a campaign speech later in the evening.
The illness comes as he faces increasing pressure to retire due to his age.
US media reports that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Majority Leader Hakeem Jefferies – the two top Democrats in the US Congress – have met separately with Mr Biden privately and expressed deep concern that his candidacy could have a negative impact on other House and Senate races.
Ms. Jean-Pierre said the president planned to self-isolate at his home in Delaware while he “fully discharged all of his duties during this period.”
The president’s physician, Kevin O’Connor, said Biden had upper respiratory symptoms, including a runny nose and cough, and had received his first dose of Paxlovid.
He felt fine during his first event of the day but then tested positive, Dr O’Connor said.
Mr Biden then took to Twitter to thank everyone for “the good health wishes” and said he would “work to get the job done for the American people” while he recovers.
In another tweet, his account said: “I’m sick of it,” before responding: “…of Elon Musk and his rich friends trying to buy this election. And if you agree, contribute here.”
The tweet pointed to a donation portal.
Reporters in Las Vegas said they were rushed to the city’s airport after the announcement.
Mr. Biden walked up the steps of the plane slowly and cautiously, the video shows. He was not wearing a mask.
As he boarded Air Force One, he was heard saying, “Good, I feel good.”
The president was forced to cancel a speech to UnidosUS, a Latino civil rights organization.
Mr Biden’s illness comes as he faces growing calls to withdraw from the election race.
Nearly two dozen Democratic politicians have called for his departure in recent weeks, including Adam Schiff, a California congressman,who said today he has serious doubts about the president’s ability to beat former President Donald Trump.
He called on Mr Biden to “pass the torch”.
Mr. Schiff said Mr. Biden “has been one of the most consequential presidents in our nation’s history” and that he could “secure his legacy of leadership” by allowing another Democrat to run.
Mr. Schumer and Mr. Jeffries — the top two Democrats in Congress — have met privately with Mr. Biden in recent days and expressed concerns among their fellow lawmakers that his leading the way in the November election could hurt their chances of controlling either chamber of Congress, according to reports from ABC News, the Washington Post and Politico.
“The president told both leaders that he is the party’s nominee, that he expects to win, and that he looks forward to working with both of them to pass his 100-day plan to help working families,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said after the news broke.
A spokesman for Mr Jeffries said it was a “private conversation that will remain private”. Mr Schumer’s office called the reports “idle speculation” but added that the Democratic leader “has conveyed his group’s views directly to President Biden”.
In an interview with BET, which was scheduled to air Wednesday night, Mr Biden said he did not feel able to pass the torch when the country was so “divided”.
The president also said for the first time that he would consider dropping out of the race if one of his doctors told him he had a “health problem.”
