Biden diagnosis feeds conspiracies for the right — and meltdown on the left
As President Joe Biden tries to convince Americans he's strong enough to run for a second term, news that the Democrat caught COVID-19 drew swift reaction from supporters worried he looked "fragile" even before the diagnosis, and from those on the right theorizing this could be a ploy to swap him for someone with better odds in the presidential race.
News that Biden tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of his event in Las Vegas reverberated on the internet, with many noting cases are rising nationwide.
Democrats — many of whom already felt unconfident about the president's chances to defeat former President Donald Trump in November — melted down on X.
Biden experienced general malaise, tiredness and upper respiratory symptoms, Dr. Sanjay Gupta said on CNN's "The Situation Room."
The news comes after Biden said he'd consider dropping out of the race if doctors diagnosed him with a "medical condition."
Read also: Biden answers Trump's 'are you better off' question with brutal review of COVID response
"He looks so fragile already. Wish him a speedy recovery," wrote @Hell1s.
"Does the Vice President finish out the term or does the terms start over?" asked MDragon_12.
"Welp…thats a wrap folks," lamented @SouthsideGrown.
"Alexa play murder she wrote," said a dejected @facts215_.
"So he's going to step aside and drop out now right?" pointed out @AndrewTurmer.
"This race is getting curioser and curioser," wrote Mike Madrid, co-founder of the Lincoln Project.
"President Biden has COVID," wrote @NiallStanage. "(The scriptwriters are really trying to cram too much into this series.)"
Some on the right openly floated conspiracy theories that this is the "medical condition" needed to push Biden out of the race.
"Step 2 for getting Biden out," theorized @jippydippydoicu. "Step one was him saying he would consider stepping down if a doctor told him he had a medical condition. Step 3 is an update that his condition has worsened."
"JOE BIDEN IS USING HIS NEW COVID DIAGNOSIS TO PLAN HIS DROP OUT OF THE US PRESIDENTIAL RACE NOW THAT SENATORS LEARNED TODAY THAT THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS PLANNED AND KNOWN BY SECRET SERVICE BEFORE HE TOOK STAGE," shouted Trump ally Laura Loomer.
She later added: "Joe Biden stepping down over a contrived medical diagnosis is a lot less scandalous than having to resign once the American people learn that the Biden administration planned an assassination of President Trump following Biden’s disastrous debate."
"This is their excuse for replacing him. Here it comes…," opined @inc_convenient on Wednesday.