Short Summary
On July 17, 2024, President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 while campaigning in Las Vegas, Nevada, experiencing mild upper respiratory symptoms that prompted his physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor to prescribe Paxlovid. The 81-year-old incumbent's diagnosis interrupted critical Hispanic voter outreach—including a canceled speech at the UnidosUS conference—and occurred amid heightened Democratic concerns about his candidacy following his widely criticized
debate performance against former President Donald Trump in late June. Biden immediately returned to his Rehoboth Beach, Delaware home to self-isolate while continuing presidential duties, with his campaign strategically messaging the incident through both official White House statements emphasizing minimal disruption and campaign communications attempting to leverage the situation for fundraising against Trump and his wealthy supporters. The diagnosis came just days after the
July 13 assassination attempt on Trump and amidst regional COVID-19 increases in the southwestern United States, with media coverage from AP News and NBC News differing notably in their contextualizing of Biden's health status, CDC isolation guidelines, and comparisons to Trump's more severe 2020 COVID-19 case that required hospitalization at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Long Summary
Key Facts
President Biden, 81, was diagnosed with "mild symptoms" and prescribed the antiviral medication Paxlovid after developing upper respiratory issues during campaign events in Las Vegas. The diagnosis interrupted his scheduled appearance at the UnidosUS conference where he planned to address Hispanic voters. This health incident occurred amid what news sources described as "intense scrutiny of his health and stamina" following what both AP News and NBC News characterized as a "disastrous" or "dismal"
debate with former President Donald Trump.
Comprehensive Timeline
The news articles document a clear sequence of events surrounding Biden's diagnosis:- July 16: Biden conducted a BET interview stating he would drop out of the presidential race if he developed a medical condition preventing him from running- July 16: Biden was observed coughing during an event with Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., in Las Vegas- July 17: Biden visited Original Lindo Michoacan Mexican Restaurant in Las Vegas- July 17: Biden sat for an interview with Univision- July 17: Biden developed upper respiratory symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19- July 17: Janet Murguía, president of UnidosUS, announced to attendees that Biden had tested positive- July 17: Biden departed Las Vegas for Delaware, telling reporters "I feel good"- July 17: Biden tweeted "I'm sick" followed by "of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election"- July 17: Campaign officials Jen O'Malley Dillon and Julie Chavez Rodriguez informed staff via email at 6:40 PM ET
Medical Details
According to Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Biden presented with "upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise." NBC News reported that Biden did not have a fever, and his respiratory rate was normal. Both sources confirmed Biden was prescribed Paxlovid and had taken his first dose.The White House stated Biden would "self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time" at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Both articles noted Biden is vaccinated and boosted, with AP News specifying he "is current on his recommended annual booster dose for COVID-19."Both sources mentioned Biden's previous COVID-19 infections, with AP News noting he "last tested positive for COVID-19 twice in the summer of 2022, when he had a primary case and a rebound case of the virus."
2024 Election Impact
The diagnosis carries particular significance within the
2024 presidential campaign context. AP News reported Biden was in Las Vegas "as part of an effort to rally Hispanic voters ahead of the November election," indicating the importance of this demographic in his electoral strategy.The timing intersects with ongoing campaign narratives about presidential fitness. AP News stated the diagnosis "comes amid intense scrutiny of his health and stamina after a disastrous debate with former President Donald Trump that sparked a flurry of concern among Democrats that Biden is not up to the rigors of winning another presidential term."NBC News uniquely connected the diagnosis to Biden's recent statement that "he would drop out of the presidential race if he developed a medical condition that prevented him from running," creating an unintended juxtaposition between that hypothetical scenario and his COVID-19 diagnosis.
Media Coverage Comparison
While covering the same event, AP News and NBC News emphasized different aspects:AP News provided more detail about Biden's activities in Las Vegas, documenting his restaurant visit, Univision interview, and noting he was accompanied by "Maritza Rodriguez, Biden for President Latina adviser."NBC News uniquely reported Biden's tweets following his diagnosis, quoting him tweeting "I'm sick" followed by "of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election" with a fundraising link. NBC added that "
Musk endorsed former President Donald Trump moments after
Saturday's assassination attempt."AP News included broader public health context about "recent upticks in emergency room visits and hospitalizations from COVID-19" particularly in the southwestern United States.NBC News detailed current CDC guidance about COVID-19 isolation, reporting that as of March 2024, "people who test positive no longer need to isolate for five days" but should "stay home and away from others" until symptoms improve. The article observed that "Biden was not wearing a mask as he walked to Air Force One after having tested positive."
Campaign Response Strategy
Both sources reported Biden's positive public demeanor, noting he told reporters "I feel good" when departing Las Vegas. NBC News provided additional detail about internal campaign communications, reporting that "Top campaign officials Jen O'Malley Dillon and Julie Chavez Rodriguez informed campaign staff members of the Covid test in a 6:40 p.m. ET email" stating "The president is doing fine and looking forward to being back on the campaign trail as soon as he is COVID free."NBC News's reporting of Biden's fundraising-focused tweets demonstrates how the campaign rapidly pivoted from the health announcement to campaign messaging and donor outreach, transforming a potential setback into an opportunity to criticize political opponents.
COVID-19 Context
AP News reported "recent upticks in emergency room visits and hospitalizations from COVID-19" with "a pronounced increase in positive test results in much of the country—particularly the southwestern U.S." This places Biden's Las Vegas diagnosis within a regional trend.The articles also mention evolving COVID-19 protocols. NBC News reported the CDC revised guidance in March 2024, noting that "people who test positive no longer need to isolate for five days" but should stay home until symptoms improve and there is no fever for 24 hours without medication.AP News noted that Paxlovid "has been proven to curtail the chances of serious illness and death from COVID-19 when prescribed in the early days of an infection, but has also been associated with rebound infections," relevant given Biden's previous rebound case in 2022.
Voter Demographic Considerations
Biden's diagnosis interrupted specific voter outreach that reveals strategic campaign priorities. AP News reported Biden was scheduled to speak at UnidosUS "as part of an effort to rally Hispanic voters ahead of the November election." The article also detailed Biden's visit to "the Original Lindo Michoacan restaurant in Las Vegas" accompanied by his campaign's Latina adviser.NBC News described UnidosUS as "the largest Latino advocacy organization in U.S.," emphasizing the significance of this particular speaking engagement to Biden's outreach strategy with Hispanic voters.The concentration of Latino-focused events—restaurant visit, Univision interview, and UnidosUS speech—indicates the strategic importance of this demographic in Biden's 2024 campaign, particularly in Nevada where Hispanic voters represent a significant portion of the electorate.Analyzed Articles:
AP News and
NBC News*There may be errors on this page.
