President Joe Biden has no public events scheduled for Monday, one day after announcing that he would be ending his re-election campaign through a letter posted on social media. Biden’s schedule for the rest of the week only says, “Additional details to the President’s schedule forthcoming.”
The schedule, which was released on Sunday night, has resulted in questions and speculation on social media surrounding Biden, who has not been seen or heard from publicly since being diagnosed with COVID last Wednesday.
Jason Miller, Senior Advisor to former President Donald Trump, commented on Biden’s schedule, posting on X, “Kamala Harris needs to be asked if she believes Joe Biden is still competent enough to do the job of President. Next week’s schedule doesn’t give one much confidence.”
Biden tested positive for COVID while he was on the campaign trail. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president was returning to Delaware after being in Las Vegas and would be self-isolating while he recovered.
“His symptoms remain mild, his respiratory rate is normal at 16, his temperature is normal at 97.8 and his pulse oximetry is normal at 97%. The President has received his first dose of Paxlovid. He will be self-isolating at his home in Rehoboth,” a doctor’s note stated last week.
Just days later, Biden announced through a letter to the country that he was ending his presidential campaign after spending the past three weeks attempting to reassure voters that he had the mental and physical stamina to push on in the 2024 race. Calls for Biden to step aside from the race built up following his disastrous debate performance against Republican nominee Donald Trump on June 27
“[W]hile it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote.
Biden was slammed by conservatives on social media for dropping out of the presidential race through a letter instead of a live televised statement. The president wrote in his letter that he “will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.”
Shortly after the letter was posted on X, the president endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the Democratic nominee.
“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” Biden said. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
As of Monday morning, Biden’s most recent tweet was his endorsement of Harris.