U.S. President Joe Biden was diagnosed with COVID-19 while on a trip to Las Vegas to campaign wednesday and is experiencing mild symptoms, the White House said.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre announced the 81-year-old Democrat's diagnosis after the president of UnidosUS, a Latino civil rights organization, said Biden would not be able to speak at a scheduled event because of the Covid-19 infection. Instead of addressing Hispanic voters, Biden went to Delaware when he planned to spend the weekend.
"He is vaccinated and experiencing mild symptoms," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Biden's diagnosis coincides with the Republican Party's National Convention and Democrats' calls for him to withdraw from the race for president.
The 19 Democratic lawmakers' calls for Biden to withdraw from the race for president were also added to Californian Adam Shiff, who is running for the U.S. Senate.
Democrats' concerns about the 81-year-old president's ability to defeat a Republican rival or whether he will lead the country for a second term were compounded by Biden's poor performance in the first debate on June 27.
Trump is currently in Miluoki, where the Republican Party's National Convention is being held, days after he survived a gun attack during a pennsylvania election rally.