Mr Biden goes to Washington: Joe beats Covid, now plans to address the nation
US President Joe Biden is headed to Washington, two days after ending his re-election bid and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination to take on Republican former president Donald Trump.
Biden spent nearly a week recovering from COVID-19 at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, as he weighed his 2024 candidacy, ultimately dropping his campaign and preparing to address the nation about his decision to not seek another term in office.
The president wore his trademark aviator glasses and clasped a surgical mask on Tuesday as he boarded Air Force One to Washington, where he will speak to Americans from the Oval Office on Wednesday night.
Biden’s White House physician said the president had tested negative for COVID and that his symptoms had resolved.
“The president continues to perform all of his presidential duties,” Dr. Kevin O’Connor wrote in a letter on Tuesday.
Biden said his Wednesday remarks will address “what lies ahead, and how I will finish the job for the American people”.
On Thursday, he will meet with Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House said.
The president departed Delaware shortly before 2pm on Tuesday, after nearly a week of isolating at his Rehoboth Beach home after his second bout with COVID-19.
Biden tested negative for the virus and his symptoms have resolved, according to a letter from his doctor Kevin O’Connor released on Tuesday.
Holding a blue paper mask, he told reporters that “I am feeling well” but did not answer other questions, such as whether Harris can defeat Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Biden has not been seen publicly since July 17 but he called into a campaign meeting on Monday to address staff and express his support for Harris’ bid to replace him a day after announcing he would leave the race.
Harris swiftly consolidated her party’s support after Biden, 81, abandoned his re-election campaign under pressure from members of his party who worried about his ability to beat Trump or to serve for another four-year term.
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She wrapped up the nomination on Monday night by winning pledges from a majority of the delegates who at next month’s party convention will determine the nominee, the campaign said.
Most Democratic lawmakers have lined up behind her candidacy, including the party’s leaders in the Senate and House, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, who endorsed Harris on Tuesday at a joint press conference.
An unofficial survey of delegates by the Associated Press showed Harris with more than 2500 delegates, well over the 1976 needed for the nomination.
Delegates could still change their minds, but no one else received any votes in the AP survey; 54 delegates said they were undecided.
